Optimizing Structures

Abstract:

Building structural components traditionally comprise a significant share of the natural resources used on a construction project. Improvements in structural design procedures can potentially result in significant reductions in use of these materials, as well as reducing construction costs. Structural optimization techniques may dramatically improve the material efficiency of buildings, satisfying performance criteria with more cost-effective designs. Theoretical approaches to structural optimization have been used in the past with some success. Trial and error is still used often to refine structural member sizes and geometries. However advances in computational speed and software development have simplified the process. While generally quite complex, optimization routines can be used to quickly evaluate alternative systems by significantly reducing the number of feasible solutions.

WSP has applied optimization theories to actual project components using a number of different procedures, such as size optimization of individual members, shape optimization (form finding), and topology optimization (spatial distribution of structural members). The processes used for these studies will be presented to illustrate the capacity structural optimization has to improve our final work products. Studies include sizing of shear walls and bracing elements for lateral load resistance, shaped roofs, and other complex geometries whose optimal solutions are not readily apparent.

Biography

Jim Swanson is Director of Structural Engineering for the Chicago office of WSP. Since receiving his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and master's degree from Purdue University, Jim has spent his entire 35-year career practicing in the design of building structures. His work features extensive experience in state-of-the art high rise, long span and transportation structures. Jim has engineered a wide range of complex projects, including the Hyatt Headquarters in Chicago, the Samsung Beijing Headquarters, and the VietinBank Business Center towers in Hanoi. His far-ranging technical expertise has also helped owners and teams on a number of Concept advisements, Peer Reviews and Competitions around the world.