Computational Structural Form Finding and Optimization of Shell Structures

p. 611-617The purpose of this research is to analyze the structural behaviour of shell structures by studying the way (applied) loads naturally flow through shell structures to their supports and relating this flow off forces to the shell geometry. To unlock this secret will give a fundamental understanding of the behaviour of shell structures and thus the means to design these with form efficiently and elegance. Shells have geometrical and structural properties, which have a close relationship, and determine its structural performance. The newly developed thrust network analysis [1] lays a direct relation in a graphical way between the geometry of a shell and possible funicular solutions under gravity loading, which gives understanding and provides the means for developing new shapes. The ¿rain flow¿ analysis [2] makes the relation between the shell geometry and the flow of loads applied to its surface. Similar with the flow of shear forces in plates in bending the ¿rain flow¿ analysis gives the relationship between the initial curvatures of the shell surface geometry and the curvatures along the shell¿s surface which represent the load path of the flow of forces of the shell and the internal forces. By combining these algorithms and analysis methods, a further understanding of the form force relationship of shells can be obtained. This unified approach is the basis for a new computational method for form finding and optimizing shell structures.Borgart, A.; Tiggeler, L. (2010). Computational Structural Form Finding and Optimization of Shell Structures. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/686

The calculation and construction of a 30 meter span ice dome

In this paper we describe the calculation and construction of a 30 meter-span ice dome on an inflatable mould realized in the winter of 2014 in Finland. This ice structure was the world’s largest igloo and first building realized with fibre-reinforced ice (pykrete). The construction method of the Pykrete Dome consist of a combination of the construction method of T. Kokawa and the relatively unknown construction material pykrete. The construction method has been analysed and adjusted to the Pykrete Dome design. An oversized membrane is inflated under the geodesic rope cover. The inflatable structure is used as a mold for the Pykrete Dome. Water, Snow and pykrete is sprayed in thin layers onto the membrane with a temperature of -8°C or lower. The construction material pykrete is a fiber reinforced ice which can be 3 times as strong as regular ice. The pykrete is applied on the lower section of the Pykrete Dome where the stress in the shell structure are higher. By conducting various experiments the construction method has been analysed and improved. High quality sawdust is mixed with water and sprayed onto the membrane with a centrifugal pump and an adjustable nozzle

New Optimization Techniques

IASS-IACM 2008 Session: New Optimization Techniques -- Session Organizers: Andrew BORGART, Edgar STACH -- "Computational structural form finding and optimization of pneumatic structures" by Andrew BORGART (TU Delft), Edgar STACH (University of Tennessee) -- "Responsive building envelopes: Optimization for environmental impact" by Patrick TEUFFEL (University of Leeds) -- "Using evolutionary computation to explore geometry and topology without ground structures" by Peter VON BUELOW (University of Michigan) -- "Structural morphology and self-organization" by Edgar STACH (University of Tennessee) -- "Feasibility of free-forms" by Ivan MARKOV (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) -- "From nanostructure to mega stadiums" by Gordana JAKIMOVSKA (Kohn Pederson Fox Associates