Evolutionary Optimization of Fabric Formed Structural Elements

Abstract

The field of structural engineering has seen a steady rise in computational optimization, where optimization algorithms attempt to find more optimal solutions to structural design problems. Although some of these optimization tools have found their way to the engineering practice, they generally extend no further than the earliest design stages, where they function as tools that provide only indicative geometries for the final design. Herein lies the possibility of incorporating manufacturability in the optimization process, whereas currently it is only considered afterwards. This thesis attempts to bridge the gap between computation optimization and manufacturability by developing a computer tool which produces manufacturable results.