Updated 28 May 2020
This study investigates the performance of recently developed optimised aluminium beam and column members designed through an advanced structural topology optimisation technique.
Research funded by: Undergraduate Research Grant 2017/18
Poster: Alikem Adugu
Supervisor: Dr Konstantinos Daniel Tsavdaridis
University: University of Leeds
Summary:
The use of aluminium within the civil engineering industry has increased significantly due to industrial and technological developments and properties of the material itself such as its:
- Low density – which reduces foundation loads, allows for faster erection time and reduces costs associated with the transport of members to site.
- High recyclability – thus sustainable.
The extent of use of aluminium as a structural building material is limited due to its low elastic modulus which creates strength and stability issues. These issues can be overcome through an appropriate design of the cross-sections (i.e. provide sections with an increased weight to stiffness ratio) using structural topology optimisation techniques.
With the power of 3D printing, any kind of optimised shape can be produced.