Digital (r)evolution in the structural/architectural design and execution of buildings with complex geometry

Architectur

Interdisciplinary parametric design: The XXL experience

Focusing on large span structures for sport buildings, the paper tackles the role of parametric modelling and performance simulations, to enhance the integration between architectural and engineering design. The general approach contrasts post-engineering processes. In post-engineering, technical performances are considered in late stages of design and tailored upon preconceived and constraining architectural solutions. Contrarily, the paper advocates the use of engineering (including structural) performances to drive creativity and innovation in conceptual design. It presents examples of research-based education, in which parametric modelling and engineering performance simulations are used in accordance to this approach. An interdisciplinary Master Design Course is presented. The course is concerned with complex horizontal large span building structures; it is tutored by academic and professional experts; and it simulates real processes. The students work in multidisciplinary teams. In each team, a student is responsible for a discipline (architectural design, structural design, envelope design, climate design and computational design). The collaborative process occurs based on computational tools, parametric methods and interdisciplinary performance evaluations. Each specialist works on 3D parametric models, to investigate aspects relevant for the specific discipline. Each specialist also shares a number of parameters across disciplines. Individual models are then integrated into shared core models. The process involves all team members; and the computational designer of each team organizes and coordinates the process. Examples of student-works are discussed regarding how parametric modelling (coupled with performance analysis – i.e. structural and multidisciplinary performances) supports design explorations for interdisciplinary performance-based design, from conceptual to detailed design. The paper critically addresses the success and difficulties of the approach.Architectural Engineering +TechnologyArchitecture and The Built Environmen

A Parametric Modelling Process for the Integration of Architecture and Structure in Large Multi-functional Sports Hall Design: a Case Study

The integration of architectural (functional spaces) and structural design is especially crucial for the conceptual design of large multi-functional sports halls, due to the strict regulations for functional spaces, the requirement of large-span structure, and the complex interrelationships between these two aspects. This on-going research aims at developing a computational method to support this integration during the conceptual design of large sports hall. This paper proposes a parametric modelling process to support a design exploration which is an important part of the computational method. A typical and simplified large multi-functional sports hall is used as an example case to demonstrate this process.Design InformaticsOLD Structural Desig

Distribution of strong earthquake input energy in tall buildings equipped with damped outriggers

The seismic design of optimal damped outrigger structures relies on the assumption that most of the input energy will be absorbed by the dampers, whilst the rest of the structure remains elastic. When subjected to strong earthquakes, nevertheless, the building structure may exhibit plastic hinges before the dampers begin to work. In order to determine to which extent the use of viscously damped outriggers would avoid damage, both the host structure's hysteretic behaviour and the dampers' performance need to be evaluated in parallel. This article provides a parametric study on the factors that influence the distribution of seismic energy in tall buildings equipped with damped outriggers: First, the influence of outrigger's location, damping coefficients, and rigidity ratios core-to-outrigger and core-to-column in the seismic performance of a 60-story building with conventional and with damped outriggers is studied. In parallel, nonlinear behaviour of the outrigger with and without viscous dampers is examined under small, moderate, strong, and severe long-period earthquakes to assess the hysteretic energy distribution through the core and outriggers. The results show that, as the ground motion becomes stronger, viscous dampers effectively reduce the potential of damage in the structure if compared to conventional outriggers. However, the use of dampers cannot entirely prevent damage under critical excitations.Accepted Author ManuscriptOLD Structural Desig

Digital technology impacts on the Arnhem transfer hall structural design

The new Transfer Hall in Arnhem is one of the key projects to prepare the Dutch railways for the increased future demands for capacity. UNStudio developed a master plan in 1996 for the station area of which the completion of the Transfer Hall in 2015 will be a final milestone. The Transfer Hall is a merging point of passengers, commercial and social interchanges, containing a multi-use development integrating program and flows of people and vehicles. The design includes a complex geometrical, double-curved shell roof where many functions are combined as well as many other geometrically challenging structural elements. This paper forms the fourth and final paper of a series [1][2][3] and focuses on the developments in digital technology during the project’s design and construction phase and how these developments could impact the structural design of a special project like this.Structural EngineeringCivil Engineering and Geoscience

A highly stable, pressure-driven, flow control system based on Coriolis mass flow sensors for organs-on-chips

Stable delivery of liquids to microfluidic systems is essential for their reproducible functioning, especially when supplying flows to organs-on-chips – delicate living models that recreate human physiology on the microscale and thus can be used to reduce the need for animal testing. Most flow control systems are unable to sustain a robust and stable flow in longer experiments (>1 week), particularly those based on the ubiquitous syringe pump. Though easy to use, syringe pumps have no mechanism for actually measuring flow, let alone flow regulation with sensor feedback. We have developed a liquid delivery system based on the generation of flow by applying a constant air pressure to liquids in sealed containers. A flow of liquid is monitored by accurate measurement of mass flows (mg/min) using downstream Coriolis-based mass flow sensors. Measured mass flows provide fast feedback to integrated valves, with valves opening or closing slightly to increase or decrease solution flows to the organs-on-chips as required. This mass flow sensing principle is not affected by changes in the density, temperature, and viscosity of the liquids being displaced. This is in contrast to systems that use volumetric flow sensors, which require recalibration when these parameters change. The rationale behind using this principle for organs-on-chips, is that the stability provided by this flow control system allows for more control over growth of these mini-organs. We demonstrate the functionality of this system with three examples: 1) Fast stabilization (within seconds) under changing physical conditions; 2) Short-term stability (minutes to hours) of delivered flows in a microreactor with interconnected inlets; and 3) Long-term stability (>1 week) of cell medium flows to a living organ-on-a-chip. Two categories of organs-on-chips (OOCs) can be distinguished: 1) solid OOC are designed for three-dimensional cell or tissue constructs that interact with each other and their surroundings, and 2) barrier-type OOC contain a selective cellular barrier between two compartments as do many barriers in the body. The latter of these two types is the most challenging to culture and maintain as they are very sensitive to variations in flow and pressure surges. The flow control system presented in this work provides a great improvement compared to the use of syringe pumps and volumetric flow sensors in OOC studies. The novelty of this work lies in the long-term stability use of this system for organs-on-chips, maintaining stability for short to very long periods of time without compromising the barrier function of the organ-on-chip by pressure surges, bacterial contamination, or other undesired effects from the flow delivery system.Precision and Microsystems Engineerin

Multi-objective and multidisciplinary design optimization of large sports building envelopes: A case study

Currently, in the conceptual envelope design of sports facilities, multiple engineering performance feedbacks (e.g. daylight, energy and structural performance) are expected to assist architectural design decision-making. In general, it is known as Building Performance Optimization in the conceptual architectural design phase. Essentially, it tends to be a Multi-objective and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization problem. Although the potential of Multi-objective Optimization and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization in handling this problem has been demonstrated in different industrial fields, there are still some significant gaps in their current application to the field of building design. The ultimate goal of our research is to find out an effective and efficient Computational Design Optimization approach, for architects, which is suitable for the conceptual design of sports building envelopes. As parts of the final goal, this paper aims to: (1) set up a meaningful benchmark case and method for the comparison of different Multidisciplinary Design Optimization approaches in future research; (2) propose an integrated Computational Design Optimization process to deal with the benchmark case using the benchmark method; and (3) test the overall process through a hypothetical and simplified case study (i.e. a sports hall with a spherical roof). Important aspects of each objective above are highlighted respectively, and thereby bridging the current gaps. Finally, discussion and future research are given.Architectural Engineering +TechnologyArchitecture and The Built Environmen

The Structure–Property Correlations in Dry Gelatin Adhesive Films

Gelatins are proteinaceous natural materials that are widely used in areas such as conservation and restoration of artifacts as adhesives and consolidants, in pharmaceutics as drug delivery carriers, and in the food industry as structurants. Herein, type A porcine gelatin adhesive films are prepared via solution casting method and their physical and mechanical properties are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurement, dynamic mechanical analysis, and uniaxial tensile tests. The results demonstrate a linear correlation between microstructure of gelatin films in terms of their triple-helix content and their macroscopic mechanical properties such as tensile strength and gel (Bloom) strength. Moreover, the findings of this study can help the scientists, in, e.g., art conservation and restoration, to predict the mechanical performance of these adhesives by performing a less material demanding and nondestructive physical measurement such as XRD.Structural Integrity & CompositesFacility Aerospace Structures & Materials LaboratoryNovel Aerospace MaterialsAdhesion Institut

Toward developing a yeast cell factory for the production of prenylated flavonoids

Prenylated flavonoids possess a wide variety of biological activities, including estrogenic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Hence, they have potential applications in food products, medicines, or supplements with health-promoting activities. However, the low abundance of prenylated flavonoids in nature is limiting their exploitation. Therefore, we investigated the prospect of producing prenylated flavonoids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. As a proof of concept, we focused on the production of the potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin. Introduction of the flavonoid prenyltransferase SfFPT from Sophora flavescens in naringenin-producing yeast strains resulted in de novo production of 8-prenylnaringenin. We generated several strains with increased production of the intermediate precursor naringenin, which finally resulted in a production of 0.12 mg L -1 (0.35 μM) 8-prenylnaringenin under shake flask conditions. A number of bottlenecks in prenylated flavonoid production were identified and are discussed. BT/Industrial Microbiolog