Castriotto, Caio Magalhães (2023) Reciprocal link a new connection system for reciprocal frame structures developed by algorithmic modeling and digital fabrication. PhD thesis, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
Abstract
The civil construction industry is one of the main responsibles for the emission of greenhouse gases, consumption of natural resources and generation of solid urban waste. Therefore, it is essential to find more sustainable alternatives, one of them being the encouragement of the use of wood. However, understanding the materiality may not be enough to encourage the material use or to solve complex problems. One possibility to solve this issue is glimpsed in revisiting building systems that take advantage of the material's characteristics. This is the case of Reciprocal Frame Structures (RFs), which allow the construction of large spans, using relatively short elements and a simplified assembly process. One of the main challenges of these structures is found in the connection mechanism between the parts, which can be the key to solve geometric and structural complexities. Thus, the goal of this research is the design of the Reciprocal Link: an algorithmic-parametric method, which automatically generates different arrangements of wooden RFs, combined with the creation of a new adaptive connection system imbued with the geometric complexity of the structures. For this, the research adopts the Design Science Research method, based on abductive processes that stimulate the creation of an Artifact. The theoretical foundation focuses on the themes of wood as a building material, changes in the production of architectural detailing, and digital design and manufacturing processes. Added to this is a Systematic Literature Review on RFs. The development pursued the consolidation of the products stipulated by the scientific method, with the comprehension of the main characteristics of the RFs and the guidelines for the connections; the creation and refinement of an algorithm, done in an iterative and incremental way; the generation of series of physical and virtual models, exploring geometric and structural aspects; and fabrication of a small pavilion, in a 1:1 scale, as a proof of concept. The obtained results indicate the full functionality of the algorithm, the realization of the Clamp Type connection system, and initial insights of the structural behavior and performance. Furthermore, reflections are made about the importance of incorporating the architectural detail in the early stages of the design process, as a mechanism capable of solving old and new problems. The main limitations found are related to manufacturing processes and structural aspects, but possible paths to overcome such obstacles are indicated.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Celani, Maria Gabriela Caffarena and Silva, Felipe Tavares da |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | computational algorithms; wood structures; architecture and technology |
| Index terms: | greenhouse gas, design science research, design process, digital fabrication, complexity, consumption, building material, building system, natural resource, reflection, materiality, artifact, functionality, systematic literature review, construction industry, encouragement, frame structure, fabrication, modelling, manufacturing process, wood |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, research evaluation and metrics, design practice, design features, sociology, information systems, systems engineering, management, climate science, environmental resource management, building materials, design methods, structural engineering, traditional and composite building materials, consumer economics, manufacturing engineering, professional development, engineering systems, analytical methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Digital Applications, Human Resources, Information Management, Design Practice, Construction Materials, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here