Integrated structural analysis using building information models and heterogeneous adaptive isogeometric finite element methods

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Carsten Könke
• Subject Area: Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics
• Term: from 2012 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 228826748

The digital cooperation of different specialists involved in the planingprocess is currently insufficient. Different consultants create different models which largely contain identical information on the geometry of the building to construct. Modifications in one of the models require a manual adaptation of the other models. The reason for that is mainly caused by the historical technical development. With this research proposal an improvement of the interoperability is to be achieved on the software level, consequently leading to an easier and therefore improved cooperation between the involved consultants. Common basis will be a building information model with consistent geometry data based on volumetric spline formulations, which is available for all involved parties. In the course of the proposed research project methods shall be developed, that allow the user a straightforward structural analysis which is based on this building information model. Thereby, the focus is on a) the generation of isogeometric finite element models from the EXPRESS data types of the IFC scheme. b) the coupling of spline based volumetric bodies, i. e. the establishment of compatibility conditions for volumetric bodies representing individual structural parts, which is required for the numerical analysis. c) the development of anisotropic error estimators for isogeometric analysis. The directionality of the error estimators is of special interest to allow the formulation of efficient refinement algorithms for the often shell-like structural parts in regular building construction, which are represented by volume elements only. c) development of adaptation methods for an algorithm based anisotropic adaptive refinement of the isogeometric finite element model, based on the previously developed error estimators. The combination of the developed methods leads to an integrated structural analysis system, that is based on building information models. The common geometry basis of building information model and FEM will improve e.g. solutions for optimization and fluid-structure interaction problems.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants