Computational conceptual design — typological exploration of spatial truss systems through optimization

Exploring a wide range of design options is crucial for every sound conceptual design process. In the conventional structural design workflow, optimization techniques are generally employed to generate well-performing design options. However, focusing only on performative criteria may result in a lack of design exploration and diversity, narrowing down the design brief too early and neglecting essential aspects beyond pure performance. In response, this paper introduces a new method for the generation of structural forms that emphasizes both performance and the exploration of a diverse set of design briefs. The method employs layout optimization in a new way and aims to find close-to-optimal yet diverse structures. First, a parametric ground structure is generated. Second, this ground structure is used to produce a structure in equilibrium based on different user-defined goals. By varying ground structures and balancing the different goals, the method produces a series of designs that are both diverse and well-performing. The applicability of the method is demonstrated through several case studies. Results show that this method allows for the real-time generation of multiple design options, including both well-known and less well-known, but not less valid, typologies. Using this approach, designers can move beyond the limitations of established typologies and explore a new variety of structural forms.