Form-finding framework for monocoque sandwich composite bridges: An optimisation tool for the preliminary design of bridges

FRP is increasingly utilised in the built environment, following successful implementations in the aerospace and marine industry. However, it exhibits poor stiffness and stability compared to conventional materials such as steel, making it challenging to satisfy serviceability and comfort requirements. Optimising FRP to address these challenges...

Balancing design and circularity: Optimizing the reuse of steel elements in the design of frame structures

The steel sector is responsible for 4-5% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Reusing structural steel elements can potentially decrease the need for the production of new steel. However, designing a load-bearing structure with reusable elements poses challenges to the design process. The starting point of the process is different...

Structural Utilization of Reclaimed Timber in a Reciprocal Frame Canopy: A Sustainable Design Strategy for the Reuse of Timber

The buildings construction industry is demanded to reduce its ecological footprint to mitigate its contribution to climate change. In this context, a novel sustainable design strategy for the reuse of timber was developed in this Master thesis. The design strategy focuses on the utilization of the material “reclaimed timber” (RT) in the...

From the ground up: Robotic Additive Manufacturing (RAM) of a structurally optimized earthen shell through computational design

When designing for structural performance, the geometry of the load-bearing elements is crucial for achieving the required stability. This is even more important in structural forms, such as shells and arches that are predominantly designed by their structural requirements. However, the typical design process starts with the design by the...

Towards a Sustainable Bridge Design: With the support of optimisation processes and decision making systems

This research aimed to design a new bridge for the city of Rome, Italy, through the support of modern optimisation and decision-making processes that can be implemented to make informed choices regarding aesthetic performance, structural firmness, and environmental impact. The bridge’s design was carried forward considering the city’s plans for...

Topologically Optimised Cast Glass Shell: Topological optimisation and new fabrication methods for compressive free-form glass structures

Glass is a material which can be seen as a double-edged sword. Its monolithic, smooth, and transparent look transmits a sense of elegance and simplicity. However, due to its brittle mechanical property, it can create complex engineering challenges when intended for a structural load-bearing application. Many forget glass has a comparable...

Patterned Grid-shell: Designing a method to analyze and compare grid-shells influenced by traditional lattice patterns of north Asia

This thesis aims to explore various possibilities in grid-structures by introducing atypical line geometries and examine its feasibility in a built environment. The proposition is derived from the larger purpose of adapting native design characteristics in modern built environment. Focusing on the Asian context, one of the essential...

Computation design method for Statics-Responsive Grid Shells

Quadrangular Grid shells have generated interest in recent years for their application in rationalizing free form geometry in the built environment. Shell structure are efficient because their form is governed by flow of internal forces. But while discretizing shells into grid shells, instead of using flow of forces, current method follows...

Green-linking Rotterdam Zuid

This research is aimed at the necessity and the design of a new city bridge in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and how green could be implemented in such a structure. Through analysis of issues regarding the connection of Rotterdam Zuid over the Nieuwe Maas, the city’s plans and ambitions, precedent bridge designs and different...

Breaking Barriers: A parametrically optimised bridge design crossing the Nieuwe Maas

This research is aimed at the necessity and the design of a new city bridge in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and how this design could be parametrically optimised using the modern digital tools that are available. Through analysis of the issues regarding the connection of Rotterdam South over the Nieuwe Maas, the city’s plans and...