Open-source terrestrial laser scanner for the virtualization of geometrical entities in AEC classrooms

This paper depicts a case study that shows an open-source Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) for use on the virtualization of simple yet precise geometrical entities in AEC classrooms. For bringing this technology to AEC classrooms, an open-source TLS was developed. The physical model was built using digital fabrication, its connectivity was established using accessible, affordable, open-source sensors and actuators and its digital representation was developed using generative design tools. All elements together are synchronized in real-time and the TLS becomes live, digitally twinned, geometry generator. The points that are generated by the TLS are gathered in a 3D virtual space in the form of virtual points. The present digitally twinned vision of laser scanning has thus three identified educational uses: (i) illustration of the measuring principle using open-source hardware together with mathematics and statistics, (ii) illustration of the generation and visualization of point clouds in real-time within a CAD environment, and (iii) perhaps with a vaster scope in AEC classrooms, illustration of the usage, analysis and identification of these point clouds. The development of this tool belongs to a vaster project for infusing Construction 4.0 technologies in AEC classrooms under development at the School of Civil Engineering of UPC-BarcelonaTech. The illustration to students of all these concepts with accessible technological tools is expected to enlarge their vision of more advanced constructional technologies such as cyber-physical systems for monitoring and surveying as well as digital technologies for reproducing “As-Built” models.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::4 - Educació de QualitatPostprint (published version

D5.2: Digital-Twin Enabled multi-physics simulation and model matching

This deliverable presents a report on the developed actions and results concerning Digital-Twin-enabled multi-physics simulations and model matching. Enabling meaningful simulations within new human-infrastructure interfaces such as Digital twins is paramount. Accessing the power of simulation opens manifold new ways for observation, understanding, analysis and prediction of numerous scenarios to which the asset may be faced. As a result, managers can access countless ways of acquiring synthetic data for eventually taking better, more informed decisions. The tool MatchFEM is conceived as a fundamental part of this endeavour. From a broad perspective, the tool is aimed at contextualizing information between multi-physics simulations and vaster information constructs such as digital twins. 3D geometries, measurements, simulations, and asset management coexist in such information constructs. This report provides guidance for the generation of comprehensive adequate initial conditions of the assets to be used during their life span using a DT basis. From a more specific focus, this deliverable presents a set of exemplary recommendations for the development of DT-enabled load tests of assets in the form of a white paper. The deliverable also belongs to a vaster suit of documents encountered in WP5 of the Ashvin project in which measurements, models and assessments are described thoroughly.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPreprin

Automated pipeline for the analysis of a scale-reduced steel cable net

This paper proposes a digitally twinned experimental analysis of a scale-reduced laboratory-sized steel cable net subjected to vertical loading. The test is aimed at establishing automated pipelines of information and analysis between the measurements (displacements of nodes) and the numerical model of the cable net, which are seamlessly interconnected through a BIM model. These automated pipelines erect the frame of the development of a digital twin of the cable net with structural analysis purposes. For the sake of measurements, a terrestrial laser scanner is used. Displacements of the nodes are extracted using computational geometry tools. For the sake of analysis, a data-based numerical model is proposed to obtain the tensile state of the cables. Precisely understanding the force distribution along nets is a challenge at design, construction and operation stages. This research belongs to a vaster project related to the development of automated pipelines of information for European infrastructure in the form of digital twins. The outcome of this laboratory test results is of great use when developing similar automated pipelines of information in real sites including cable nets in roofs.All authors acknowledge the funding of ASHVIN, “Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation & Maintenance using a Digital Twin” an H2020 project under agreement 958161.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPostprint (published version

D5.1 SHM digital twin requirements for residential, industrial buildings and bridges

This deliverable presents a report of the needs for structural control on buildings (initial imperfections, deflections at service, stability, rheology) and on bridges (vibrations, modal shapes, deflections, stresses) based on state-of-the-art image-based and sensor-based techniques. To this end, the deliverable identifies and describes strategies that encompass state-of-the-art instrumentation and control for infrastructures (SHM technologies).Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement EconòmicObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPreprin

Structural optimization of horizontal links

El creciente desarrollo de herramientas computacionales y de modernas técnicas de fabricación permite a los ingenieros abordar el diseño de elementos estructurales usando herramientas de diseño asistidas por ordenador. Recientemente, se han desarrollado algoritmos de optimización estructural para su uso en las industrias de automoción y aeroespacial, proporcionando elementos estructurales optimizados con respecto a su rendimiento y uso de material. La optimización estructural incluye algoritmos para la optimización topológica y optimización de forma, que están directamente relacionados con determinar la distribución del material y la forma de los límites de un espacio de diseño, dado un conjunto de condiciones de contorno, lo que conduce a nuevas geometrías con características mejoradas. La ingeniería estructural, en particular la Ingeniería sismo-resistente, tiene como objetivo disipar energía usando elementos específicos dentro de la estructura (disipadores). Hoy en día, con estas nuevas herramientas computacionales y el horizonte del desarrollo de la impresión 3D, permiten considerar otras alternativas a los métodos de diseño actuales para disipadores estructurales. El TFM realizado tiene como objetivo implementar estos algoritmos de optimización estructural en los disipadores horizontales de pórticos excéntricos (EBF), con el fin de obtener geometrías que proporcionen nuevas vías de diseño para estos elementos. Se ha creado un procedimiento de optimización basado en una carga lateral controlada por desplazamiento (push-over) aplicada a un EBF de una sola planta, utilizando Abaqus FEA y su módulo de optimización (ATOM). El comportamiento de los disipadores optimizados se ha comparado con el comportamiento de los disipadores originales en cuestiones de rigidez inicial, límite elástico, carga máxima resistida y energía disipada. Los resultados de la optimización muestran geometrías poco convencionales que pueden mejorar las características de los disipadores.Growing development of computation and modern manufacturing techniques allow engineers to approach design of structural elements using new computer-aided design tools. In recent years, structural optimization algorithms have been developed to be used in automotive and aerospace manufacturing industries, providing structural elements with optimized performance and material utilization. Structural optimization includes topology optimization and shape optimization algorithms, which are directly involved in determining the material distribution and the shape of the boundaries of a design space, given a set of boundary conditions, leading to new geometries with improved characteristics. Structural engineering, particularly earthquake-resistant structural engineering aims to dissipate energy using specific elements within the structure (dissipators), Nowadays, with these new computational tools and the horizon of development of additive-manufacturing, alternative ways to current design methods for structural dissipators can be considered. This TFM aims to implement these structural optimization algorithms to the horizontal links of Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs), in order to obtain new geometries that open new design paths for these types of elements. An optimization procedure based on a displacement-controlled lateral load (push-over) applied to a single-storey EBF has been created using Abaqus FEA and Abaqus Optimization Module (ATOM). Optimized links performance has been compared with the performance of original links in terms of initial stiffness, yield strength, maximum strength and energy dissipation. Optimization results show interesting geometries that are able to improve the characteristics of the links

Towards automated pipelines for processing load test data on a hs railway bridge in Spain using a digital twin

This document presents an automated pipeline to process sensor-based data produced during load tests on digitally twinned HS railway bridges. The research is developed within the frame of the H2020 European project ASHVIN, related to Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction, Design, Operation & Maintenance using Digital Twins. The pipeline is developed within a digital twin application based on event-driven microservices, which integrates the ASHVIN IoT platform, the IFC building information model and an array of services dedicated to automating processes performed during the operation stage of structural assets. A load test carried out on a bridge located on a HS railway in Spain is used as a demonstrator.All authors acknowledge the funding of ASHVIN, “Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation & Maintenance using a Digital Twin” an H2020 project under agreement 958161.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement EconòmicPostprint (published version

On the topological optimization of horizontal links in eccentrically braced frames

This paper presents an implementation of structural optimization algorithms for the design of horizontal links of Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs) when subjected to monotonic shear loading. The objective is to study optimized geometries that open new design paths for these types of elements. With the advent of new additive manufacturing techniques such as WAAM (wire and arc additive manufacturing), energy dissipators may become one of the strategic applications for 3D printing of steel structures. For this purpose, an optimization procedure based on a displacement-controlled lateral load (push-over) applied to a single-storey EBF has been created using Abaqus FEA and Abaqus Optimization Module (ATOM). The performance of the optimized links has been compared with the performance of original links in terms of initial stiffness, yield strength, maximum strength and energy dissipation. The results show a set of promising geometrical configurations for horizontal links. Further research lines related to cyclic loading, anisotropic behaviour and advanced loading protocols are suggested.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Seasonal analysis of a 846 long steel box girder bridge using Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and FE-models

This investigation presents the seasonal analysis of an 846 long steel box girder bridge using Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and FE-models. The Bridge is both vertically and horizontally curved with a tapered, stiffened steel box girder. The sequential seasonal measurement of the plates using a TLS provides a set of point clouds that can be systematically used to feed advanced inelastic FE analysis. Since the bridge experiences considerable seasonal displacements, the effect of these displacements on the ultimate load capacity of the composite bridge is under study. In the FE-analysis, comparisons between defining imperfections of the plates as adequately scaled Eigenshapes or, as real measurements, are performed. Different scenarios (seasonal and shape- related) are thus assessed. In addition, another challenge in this investigation is to digitize realistically and seasonally the “as built” shape of the plates. The definition of the resulting 3D geometry must be versatile enough to be used by different stakeholders (simulation, BIM managers, IoT). The outcome of this pipeline of information covering measurement-FE-analysis and assessment is of great interest to maintenance managers. Understanding the seasonal geometrical configuration of this bridge may represent an accurate starting point for subsequent forecasting of structural engineering scenarios.Authors acknowledge the funding of ASHVIN, “Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation & Maintenance using a Digital Twin” an H2020 project under agreement 958161. In Addition, the authors are grateful to BAGH Técnica and MITMA for providing access to the bridge for measurements, data collection as well for their disposition to share project information and follow the development of this research.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraPostprint (published version

A cyber-physical educational game of Petanca: Petan-Camins

Continuously emerging technologies in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) are transforming the sector. In the Industry, the digitization of the built environment in manifold ways represents a pivotal moment in terms of increasing productivity, resource efficiency, safety and cost-benefit. As in other domains, this digitization comes with a profound cost in disruption. In Civil Engineering Education, there is a debate needed when it comes to embedding digitization within curricula in ways it fosters creativity and guarantees equal opportunities. Educators in Civil Engineering are increasingly making attempts for embedding digitization activities properly. This innovative practice is aimed at providing one bridge between the physical and the virtual realms to civil engineering students. It aims at eliciting reflective thoughts on how information may flow in this physical-to-virtual journey. In particular, info coming from Terrestrial Laser Scanners, one tool that is claimed to contribute considerably in the digitization of the sector. For this purpose, a classical physical Mediterranean game Petanca is enriched with a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) and with computational geometry tools to become a physical-to-virtual game. This work in progress presents the tools, the methodology and some of the results obtained in initial editions of the activity at the School of Civil Engineering in Barcelona, Spain.Postprint (published version

I-Twin. Computational twin connectors for I-profiles: towards unforeseen interoperability of digital tools

Standard BIM data-exchange format requirements are permeating Building Construction. This is due to the increasing digital communication between Stakeholders of complex projects. All steps of development (conception, design, procurement, construction and operation) are pushing towards integration of data schemas. Desirably, knowledge and value generated by one stakeholder may then be leveraged by other stakeholders. 3D models, simulations, measurements, logbooks, schedules, as-built conditions and other information constructs are on the verge of interoperable communication. Structural Analysis must play a significant role within those more digitized data exchanges. This paper presents recent developments of frameworks, connectors and tools for the integration of structural I-shaped beam entities into Digital Twins. The information construct I-Twin encompasses information loads for geometries (IFC-Based), sensors (IoT) and simulations (FEM).Authors acknowledge the funding of ASHVIN, “Assistants for Healthy, Safe, and Productive Virtual Construction Design, Operation & Maintenance using a Digital Twin” an H2020 project under agreement 958161. This publication reflects only authors' view and that the European Commission is not responsible for any uses that may be made of the information it contains.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i InfraestructuraObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement EconòmicPostprint (published version