Tramontini, L M (2024) Towards the integration of additive manufacturing for freeform steel and glass façade construction. PhD thesis, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
Abstract
The thesis, titled 'Towards the Integration of Additive Manufacturing for Freeform Steel and Glass Façade Construction,' explores the transformative role of additive manufacturing (AM) in enhancing the design and construction of Freeform Steel and Glass Façades (FFSGF). These façades involve intricate components, necessitating collaborative efforts among designers, engineers, and fabricators to achieve complex façade geometries with good performance while ensuring efficiency in design, material usage, fabrication, and cost. Recent advancements in AM technology have made it a potentially viable and increasingly accessible fabrication strategy, particularly for mass-customized components such as those used in freeform construction. The research aims to answer the central question of how AM can effectively contribute to developing node solutions supporting Freeform Steel & Glass Façade (FFSGF) construction. The study systematically examines opportunities for improvement in existing solutions. Chapters 2 and 3 provide a critical overview of FFSGF construction typologies and explore the current landscape of AM in façade applications. Chapters 4 and 5 delve into the design and development of crucial components—structural nodes and gasket nodes—utilizing different AM technologies. Prototypes are manufactured and evaluated in comparison to existing solutions. Chapter 6 provides a case study of integrating AM product development into a larger construction project, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. The thesis underlines the advantages of the systemization of AM node design throughout the design and fabrication of AM nodes. This research contributes to the evolving knowledge at the intersection of design, engineering, construction, and AM, aiming to provide a valuable resource for building industry professionals navigating the complexities of incorporating AM into the fabrication of freeform steel and glass façades.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Knaack, U; Turrin, M and Klein, T |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | additive manufacturing; freeform facades; steel and glass construction; digital fabrication; building technology; mass customisation |
| Index terms: | interdisciplinary collaboration, complexity, product development, construction project, additive manufacturing, integration, digital fabrication, strategy, prototype, building technology, fabrication, mass customization, design and construction, building industry, designer, engineer, geometry, case study, design and development, efficiency |
| Subjects: | manufacturing engineering, production management, design process, contractual arrangements, innovation studies, organizational analysis, industry analysis, information systems, systems engineering, management, performance management, modelling and simulation, data collection methods, profession, mathematical modelling, research design and methodology, engineering systems |
| Topics: | Procurement, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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