Cryogenic Upper Stage Kit Optimization: Determination of optimal hardware kit configurations for payload performance enhancement of cryogenic upper stages

This thesis details the methods used to build KOTUS (Kit Optimization Tool for Upper Stages) and the application of the tool to the future evolved Ariane 6 upper stage evolution, the Multi-function Upper Stage Express (MUSE), in order to gauge the impact of selected mission-specific kit elements on its payload performance for a range of Earth...

Building Design Approaches and Performance Under Predicted Climate Conditions

The building environment has high energy consumption and carbon emission which contributes to the rapid climate change. The changing climate condition not only impacts the natural environment but also our habitation. To improve the building performance in both energy and indoor comfort, performance-based design is commonly applied in...

Maximum Coverage Problems: Theory and Application in Optimal Sensor Selection

In this thesis we analyse the class of <i>maximum coverage</i> problems. For all discussed problems, linear programs are formulated. Using the notion of <i>submodularity</i>, we prove that for the weighted version of the basic <i>Maximum Coverage</i> problem, where the weights differ per set, a polynomial-time greedy algorithm guarantees a (1 -...

Design parameter guidelines for purely passive cooling buildings in Tropical regions

Nowadays, the energy consumption has a significant role in the entire life cycle of a building. The energy demands keep rising due to growth in population, increasing demand for healthy, comfort and productive indoor environment, global climate changing, and so on. This rapid increase in energy use in buildings represents a major issue...

OPTIMUS: Self-Adaptive Differential Evolution with Ensemble of Mutation Strategies for Grasshopper Algorithmic Modeling

Most of the architectural design problems are basically real-parameter optimization problems. So, any type of evolutionary and swarm algorithms can be used in this field. However, there is a little attention on using optimization methods within the computer aided design (CAD) programs. In this paper, we present Optimus, which is a new...

Multivariate Interactive Visualization of Data in Generative Design

We describe our work on providing support for design decision making in generative design systems producing large quantities of data, motivated by the continuing challenge of making sense of large design and simulation result datasets. Our approach provides methods and tools for multivariate interactive data visualization of the generated...

Integrating Natural Ventilation within an optimization process of energy performance

Decisions made in the early stage of the design process can have huge impacts on the future performance of a building. The implementation of natural ventilation strategies should occur early in the design stages and it should be embedded into a multi-criteria optimization process in order to achieve low energy performance and indoor comfort.

How to achieve aircraft availability in the MRO&U triad

The financial crisis and the introduction of low-budget companies have brought major changes to the air freight community. Competition became stronger and cost control became more important. This led to new ways of organizing aircraft Maintenance, Repair, Overhauls and Upgrades (MRO&U), which became performance oriented. For the triad of...

Freeform Follows Functions

This research is twofold. Firstly it treats the complexity of design using a computational intelligent method to achieve, with regard to a limited set of goals, high performing designs. Secondly, an architectural and structural challenge to conceptually design a freeform roof framework, which integrates structural rigidity and non-standard...

Parametric Massing Optimization Tools

The separation between architect and engineer is a relatively recent event, in comparison to the long history of human constructions. In modern times the separation of the two professions and the involvement of engineers in later design stages has proved problematic, because of the large effort needed to make changes in later design stages. On...

Cloud-Based Design Analysis and Optimization Framework

Integration of analysis into early design phases in support of improved building performance has become increasingly important. It is considered a required response to demands on contemporary building design to meet environmental concerns. The goal is to assist designers in their decision making throughout the design of a building but with...

Integrating Computational and Building Performance Simulation Techniques for Optimized Facade Designs

This paper investigates the integration of Building Performance Simulation (BPS) and optimization tools to provide high performance solutions. An office room in Cairo, Egypt was chosen as a base testing case, where a Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used for optimizing the annual daylighting performance of two parametrically modeled daylighting...