Original scientific paper

Global optimization of freeform support structures

Simon Kulovec ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Leon Kos ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jože Duhovnik ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Aškerčeva cesta 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

The trends in current architectural design are leading towards structures with free and irregular forms. The connection between the design intent and the fabrication presents a challenge when creating a support structure that is geometrically viable and should possess certain aesthetics, fabricational, thermal and strength requirements. To ensure the contact of edges of neighborhood insulation panels along their thickness, their edges must be cut under different angles which cause the differences in vertex heights and further the differences of the positions of the inner metal sheets of the insulation panels. The main goal of the presented research is the development of the optimization procedure by which the minimal joint height differences will be achieved in all the joints, taking into account all free form surfaces of the individual architectural design. To compensate for the residual joint height differences the usage of spacers of different thicknesses is proposed. Quad-dominant meshes with conical properties require optimization of the vertex heights to align all beams at approximately minimal joint height differences. The paper considers global minimization of joint height differences for a sample of free form architectural design, meshed with quad-dominant mesh with conical properties. The comparison of the joint height differences before and after the optimization shows the substantial improvement.

Keywords

conical mesh; height differences minimization; offset mesh; structural optimization; support structure

Hrčak ID:

83910

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/83910

Publication date:

29.6.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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