Optimal design of fabric formed concrete beams

The topic of fabric formwork has emerged as a response to the rising need for material efficient designs that also incorporate attractive aesthetic and construction related features. The thesis approaches the topic of the optimization of the design of fabric formed concrete beams. The thesis proposes two methods: an analytical optimization method and a feasible region method. The optimum design of fabric formed reinforced concrete beams is discussed first and a sample output of the optimum design based on minimizing the cost of a cross-section is produced. A relatively direct design process based on simple polynomials is established that can conveniently guide designers to produce optimal designs. Based on sample results, savings of up to 55% in material cost could be accomplished using fabric formed beams. The subject of pre-stressed fabric formed beams is then approached using the two methods. Certain additional complexities are explained and some simplifications are done in order to arrive at an optimum design using the feasible region method.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Sarieddine, Marwan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John A. Ochsendorf.

• Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90155

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/90155