Workshop: New digital design tools for long-span structures

Suspension and cable-stayed forms incorporating vertical pylons are ubiquitous for long-span bridge structures. Recent research suggests these may require significantly more material to construct than the optimal form (e.g. a suspension bridge form may require over 70% more material than the optimal).

The research has now been extended to allow realistic pattern load cases to be treated. The methods allow identification of materially efficient structures, with the potential for longer spans and lower embodied carbon.

In the first part of the event, the importance of material efficiency is discussed. Layout optimization is then introduced and the benefits this brings at the conceptual design stage outlined. Two user-friendly tools are then launched, the new LayOpt:BRIDGE web-app, and v6 of the Peregrine optimization plugin for Rhino/Grasshopper.

In the second part of the event these tools are applied to long span design problems involving practical geometries and loadings. Participants are then encouraged to try the LayOpt:BRIDGE web-app. Finally, the potential for these tools to be applied in practice is briefly discussed.

CONTENTS

Welcome & Introductions

The Importance of Material Efficiency
Ian Firth - COWI

Principles and Methods of Structural Optimization
Matthew Gilbert - University of Sheffield

Optimization of Long Span Structures
Helen Fairclough - University of Sheffield

Launch of New Tools: LayOpt:BRIDGE & Peregrine v6
Helen Fairclough - University of Sheffield

Structural Optimization in Grasshopper Using Peregrine v6
Tom Pritchard - LimitState

Online Optimization with LayOpt:BRIDGE
Introduction and Hands-on Workshop

Application of Next Generation Design Tools in Practice
Daniel Green - COWI

Conclusions & Wrap-up