AEI

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bottom chord extensions on deflections and vibration characteristics of joist supported floor systems when joist bottom chord extensions are installed. To understand the effect of bottom chord extensions on deflections, natural frequency, damping, mode shape and effective mass, extensive analytical and experimental studies were conducted on single span and three span joist supported laboratory footbridges with different bottom chord extension configurations. Finite element computer models were created to simulate and compare the results of stiffness and vibration tests. Testing was done with a) the bottom chord extensions in-place before the concrete was placed, b) with all or part of the bottom chord extensions removed, and c) after the bottom chord extensions had been reinstalled with jacking for the single span footbridge and without jacking for the three-span footbridge. Results from the stiffness tests indicate that re-installing the bottom chord extensions to the joists of the single span footbridge with cured concrete with the center of the span raised helps to reduce the uniform load deflections to some extent, but not as much as placing the bottom chord extensions before the concrete placement. Likewise, for the three span footbridge, placing the bottom chord extensions before the concrete placement is observed to be a better solution. Results from the dynamic tests indicate that the effect of bottom chord extensions on the single span footbridge is consistent for natural frequency, 20 psf live load deflections, sinusoidal excitations with high amplitudes, quarter point heel drop excitations, walking excitations, and effective mass values. The effect of bottom chord extensions on the three span footbridge is consistent for the natural frequency and 20 psf deflections. iii However, the FRF (Frequency Response Function) peaks of chirp, heel drop, sinusoidal excitations, accelerations from walking data, and the MEScope and Finite Element model effective mass results do not follow a common trend.

A building's facade has significant impact on energy consumption. This paper investigates a specific facade configuration based on origami: kaleidocycle rings that can be morphed to enhance daylight uniformity and reduce total energy consumed for heating and cooling. This paper utilizes simulation techniques for identifying the most efficient daylight and thermal performance by incorporating parametric optimization using Grasshopper and Diva-for-Rhino. Analysis was conducted using the Daylight Dynamic Performance Metrics (DDPMs) specifically Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE) based on the new IES approved daylight metrics. The simulation was carried out for a southoriented façade of an office room in Aswan, Egypt, through two phases both used genetic algorithm to drive kaleidocycle parameters. The first phase simulated daylighting for façade optimization which influenced the second phase that run to reach the balance point between daylight and thermal performance. Results LEED V4 daylighting requirements and achieve a remarkable energy saving of 23% in comparison to non-optimized configuration.

This paper focuses on the potential for developing an interactive Virtual Reality (VR) environment that exploits new concepts such as parametric design and genetic algorithm as a method of computational architecture through the conceptual design process. Existing tools and decision support mechanisms are investigated as part of this process. The proposed system introduces the potential of combining different concepts under the chamber of a single VR environment. Influential factors in this area are: form generation, change management, conceptual design illustration, and collaboration throughout the whole design process. First part of this paper introduces the basics of conceptual design, then critically reviews design thinking parallel with the design process; thereafter provides a roadmap for conceptual design and computational support, with a specific focus on the early conceptual design stage (including computational methods for sketching and collaboration throughout conceptual design). Extant literature on the characteristics of collaborative behaviour within the initial conceptual architectural design processes performed through virtual environments are examined. Extant literature highlights the importance of computational design in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. However, there is a significant knowledge gap in literature c oncerning the veracity of findings to date which explicitly identify the congruent links and support mechanisms needed to overtly exploit the opportunities presented with new computational design methods. This research is the first of the kind to purpos efully endeavour to uncover ne w insight and understanding into virtual generative workspaces, especially though new social interactions and decision-making criteria. Research findings to date have identified new insight into how AEC designers think during the early conceptual design stages. These issues are used to satiate the pivotal drivers, priorities, and critical success factors needed for effective operationalisation through a conceptual design support tool and possible future directions within computational design strategy. The outcomes and intervention of this research will be used to develop a ‘proof of concept’ prototype to reveal the role of generative design methods integrated into a single dynamic and flexible VR environment which supports early conceptual AEC design process.

Energy efficiency programs, such as Better Building Initiative, assume that our knowledge is adequate to understand and assess energy savings and productions, in order to guide investment decisions so that energy savings goals are achieved. However, energy savings and productions following the implementation of energy improvements, such as Photovoltaic (PV) systems, are subject to significant short-and long-term variations over time. Understanding the longitudinal variations of energy savings and productions is critical to achieve energy savings goals. The objective of this paper is to identify and characterize main properties of longitudinal energy productions following the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Graphical and statistical time series methods are used to directly extract knowledge from the actual longitudinal energy productions. The data about longitudinal energy productions of forty five PV systems were used in this study. The data were provided by Florida Solar Energy Center. The identified properties of longitudinal energy productions are outliers, level shifts, seasonalities, long-term trends, and short-term variations. It is expected that the knowledge about longitudinal variations of energy productions improve maintenance, design and investment analysis of PV systems in order to achieve energy productions goals. It is also anticipated that the proposed methods can be used for identifying and characterizing longitudinal energy productions following the implementation of other energy improvements.

Building elements, namely walls, roofs, slabs, stairs, ramps, doors, windows, internal walls, are the physical “architectural” components of the building. In the design process there are different approaches for developing typical details of building elements. “Copying” or “adapting” typical details from manufacturers’ brochures, websites, catalogues or “best practice” handbooks are one way in developing building elements. The other way is to “design” genuine details of building elements, which comprises the integration of technology into design. In designing a “genuine” detail of a building element, designers have to cope with the complexity of a huge amount of criteria related to requirements, resources, constrains etc. and millions of alternative combinations of possible solutions. As “intuitive” design approaches might be insufficient in overcoming those difficulties, using “design methods” is a rational way. Especially for design students and inexperienced designers “design methods” are an important aid in the design process. But how efficient is it to use a “methodic” approach in designing building elements instead of an “intuitive” way? In the paper a “building element design method” from the German literature; “Methods of Construction and Choosing of Building Materials” (Methodik des Konstruierens und Wahl der Baustoffe) by H.F.O. Müller is examined. The method, which is based on VDI regulations (Association of German Engineers), is analyzed and the stages of the proposed process are defined. In “refining” and “clarifying” the method some new modules are added and some existing modules are extended. Finally the building element “design method” is simplified and transformed into a “stage by stage” process flow chart, easy to use for inexperienced designers. An experimental design process of building elements determines the “usability” of the method. As a result the simplified “stage by stage” procedure of the method and its “easy to use” rating from an inexperienced designer’s point of view, are presented.

The building industry has become a complex world with the exploding number of new building materials and construction techniques since the industrial revolution and changing demands since the end of WWII. “Design methods” have been introduced instead of traditional design approaches in coping with complex design problems of modern times. Especially in the area of architectural technology in terms of detailing building elements, using “design methods” is an important aid in the design process. As the detailing of building elements stage has inputs which are mostly defined systematically, it is a rational way to use methodic approaches in the design process. In the paper, three “building element design methods” are examined. The first method is; H.F.O. Müller’s “Method of Construction and Choosing of Building Materials”, which is based on VDI regulations. The second method is; “Principles of Building Element Design”, by P. Rich and Y. Dean. The last method, discussed in the paper is; “Generation and Evaluation of Alternatives for Building Elements” by M. Aygün. Those methods are analysed and the stages of the proposed processes are defined. Each “building element design method” is simplified and transformed into a “step by step” process flow chart to achieve a basis for better comparison. The three “building element design methods”, from different cultural, technological and economical environments are evaluated with criteria for characterization and choosing of design methods. As a result the characteristics of the methods in comparison with each other are presented.