Altair Case Studies A Vision of Tomorrow's Architecture: Designing the LAVA Bionic Tower

	A Vision of Tomorrow's Architecture: Designing the LAVA Bionic Tower Altair

A Vision of Tomorrow's Architecture: Designing the LAVA Bionic Tower

Altair

Technology Category	Sensors - Temperature Sensors Wearables - Exoskeletons
Applicable Industries	Buildings Construction & Infrastructure
Applicable Functions	Procurement Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Structural Health Monitoring
Challenge	The Bionic Tower, a high-rise tower proposal in Abu Dhabi designed by the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA), is a symbol of LAVA’s visions of tomorrow’s architecture. The design unifies nature’s organization system with advanced computing technology, to achieve an architectural expression of ultimate lightness, efficiency, and sophistication. The structural expression of this architecture is a proposed organic exoskeleton which acts to structurally stabilize the building. The major challenge was to generate a unique structural form that is lightweight and organic in appearance in order to achieve the free-form exoskeleton structure. Read More
About Customer	The customer in this case study is the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA). LAVA incorporates patterns of nature organization with future technologies to evolve structures and achieve more efficient architectures with less material. LAVA strives to explore and create new forms of design that enhances reality and reflects the environment in every architectural project. LAVA has completed various projects ranging from installations to urban centers, and furniture to airports. The Bionic Tower is a symbol of LAVA’s visions of tomorrow’s architecture. The design unifies nature’s organization system with advanced computing technology, to achieve an architectural expression of ultimate lightness, efficiency, and sophistication. Read More
Solution	James Kingman, a graduate of the School of Civil Engineering Master Degree program at the University of Leeds, took the geometry of the CAD model provided by LAVA and created his own finite element model using Altair HyperWorks. Loading and boundary conditions were applied to the model representing gravity and environmental loading along with idealized foundation support. He conceptualized the building structure as a central core braced by the external exoskeleton. He undertook a series of studies using Optistruct, Altair's structural analysis and optimization solver, to investigate how topology optimization could be used to develop the design of the exoskeleton structure. The entire building envelope was defined as a designable domain in the topology optimization. A sensitivity study was undertaken and it was found that finite elements with a nominal size of approximately one meter produced satisfactory results. The automatic mesh generation process created a mesh composed of approximately 100,000 finite elements. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Sensors - Temperature Sensors

Wearables - Exoskeletons

Applicable Industries

Buildings

Construction & Infrastructure

Applicable Functions

Procurement

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Structural Health Monitoring

Challenge

The Bionic Tower, a high-rise tower proposal in Abu Dhabi designed by the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA), is a symbol of LAVA’s visions of tomorrow’s architecture. The design unifies nature’s organization system with advanced computing technology, to achieve an architectural expression of ultimate lightness, efficiency, and sophistication. The structural expression of this architecture is a proposed organic exoskeleton which acts to structurally stabilize the building. The major challenge was to generate a unique structural form that is lightweight and organic in appearance in order to achieve the free-form exoskeleton structure.

About Customer

The customer in this case study is the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA). LAVA incorporates patterns of nature organization with future technologies to evolve structures and achieve more efficient architectures with less material. LAVA strives to explore and create new forms of design that enhances reality and reflects the environment in every architectural project. LAVA has completed various projects ranging from installations to urban centers, and furniture to airports. The Bionic Tower is a symbol of LAVA’s visions of tomorrow’s architecture. The design unifies nature’s organization system with advanced computing technology, to achieve an architectural expression of ultimate lightness, efficiency, and sophistication.

Solution

James Kingman, a graduate of the School of Civil Engineering Master Degree program at the University of Leeds, took the geometry of the CAD model provided by LAVA and created his own finite element model using Altair HyperWorks. Loading and boundary conditions were applied to the model representing gravity and environmental loading along with idealized foundation support. He conceptualized the building structure as a central core braced by the external exoskeleton. He undertook a series of studies using Optistruct, Altair's structural analysis and optimization solver, to investigate how topology optimization could be used to develop the design of the exoskeleton structure. The entire building envelope was defined as a designable domain in the topology optimization. A sensitivity study was undertaken and it was found that finite elements with a nominal size of approximately one meter produced satisfactory results. The automatic mesh generation process created a mesh composed of approximately 100,000 finite elements.

Impact #1	The results of the topology optimization studies were interesting both architecturally and structurally. When gravity loading was considered in isolation, a structure similar to tree roots emerged; whereas when wind loading was considered, the emerging structure had a much more skeletal appearance. Varying the relative magnitudes of the two loads gave rise to numerous optimal “compromises” between the two extremes. This enables the structural engineer to assess and examine the sensitivity of the optimal structure to the relative magnitude of the two load cases. By gradually reducing the permissible volume of material in the final design, the most critical load paths could be identified down the exterior envelope of the building. Varying the permissible volume of material is suggested as a very powerful tool for structural engineers to understand complex load paths. Topology optimization was found to be widely applicable to the unique problems of designing a high-rise structure with challenging architectural requirements. It was found that the topology optimization technique is at a sufficient stage of maturity for rapid studies to be conducted as is required in early stage design.

Impact #1

The results of the topology optimization studies were interesting both architecturally and structurally. When gravity loading was considered in isolation, a structure similar to tree roots emerged; whereas when wind loading was considered, the emerging structure had a much more skeletal appearance. Varying the relative magnitudes of the two loads gave rise to numerous optimal “compromises” between the two extremes. This enables the structural engineer to assess and examine the sensitivity of the optimal structure to the relative magnitude of the two load cases. By gradually reducing the permissible volume of material in the final design, the most critical load paths could be identified down the exterior envelope of the building. Varying the permissible volume of material is suggested as a very powerful tool for structural engineers to understand complex load paths. Topology optimization was found to be widely applicable to the unique problems of designing a high-rise structure with challenging architectural requirements. It was found that the topology optimization technique is at a sufficient stage of maturity for rapid studies to be conducted as is required in early stage design.

Benefit #1	Easy design of complex geometries
Benefit #2	Precise load bearing structure prediction
Benefit #3	Improved structurally feasibility

Benefit #1

Easy design of complex geometries

Benefit #2

Precise load bearing structure prediction

Benefit #3

Improved structurally feasibility

Download PDF Version

Overview

A Vision of Tomorrow's Architecture: Designing the LAVA Bionic Tower

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit