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Coevolutionary and genetic algorithm based building spatial and structural design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2015

Hèrm Hofmeyer  and
Juan Manuel Davila Delgado
Hèrm Hofmeyer*
Affiliation:
Department of the Built Environment, Unit Structural Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Juan Manuel Davila Delgado
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering, Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
*
Reprint requests to: H. Hofmeyer, Department of the Built Environment, Unit Structural Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, VRT 9.32, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands. E-mail: h.hofmeyer@tue.nl
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Abstract

In this article, two methods to develop and optimize accompanying building spatial and structural designs are compared. The first, a coevolutionary method, applies deterministic procedures, inspired by realistic design processes, to cyclically add a suitable structural design to the input of a spatial design, evaluate and improve the structural design via the finite element method and topology optimization, adjust the spatial design according to the improved structural design, and modify the spatial design such that the initial spatial requirements are fulfilled. The second method uses a genetic algorithm that works on a population of accompanying building spatial and structural designs, using the finite element method for evaluation. If specific performance indicators and spatial requirements are used (i.e., total strain energy, spatial volume, and number of spaces), both methods provide optimized building designs; however, the coevolutionary method yields even better designs in a faster and more direct manner, whereas the genetic algorithm based method provides more design variants. Both methods show that collaborative design, for example, via design modification in one domain (here spatial) to optimize the design in another domain (here structural) can be as effective as monodisciplinary optimization; however, it may need adjustments to avoid the designs becoming progressively unrealistic. Designers are informed of the merits and disadvantages of design process simulation and design instance exploration, whereas scientists learn from a first fully operational and automated method for design process simulation, which is verified with a genetic algorithm and subject to future improvements and extensions in the community.

Keywords

Coevolutionary DesignGenetic AlgorithmSpatial DesignStructural DesignTopology Optimization

Information

Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 29 , Special Issue 4: Generative and evolutionary design exploration , November 2015 , pp. 351 - 370
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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