Proposing a New Configuration for Diagrid System

What is it about?

A new pattern for grid structures was introduced, and its performance was compared with the two previous common patterns (triangular and hexagonal). The new pattern is called the Isometric Cube grid, thanks to its particular shape. The design process was performed based on a simple stiffness criterion presented in the previous research. In order to calculate the stiffness of the structure for the new pattern, two types of existing structural nodes were distinguished, and the results were combined to determine the stiffness of the unit forming the entire grid. From the results of analysis, it was found that the optimal angles of diagonal elements were in the range of 50-65 degrees. Although the behavior of the new pattern in terms of shear stiffness was between the two previous patterns (and closer to the hexagonal pattern), the shear stiffness ratio increased from 30° to 65° for cube pattern, while for hexagrid, it decreased over the same range of angles.

Featured Image

Photo by Musa Haef on Unsplash

Photo by Musa Haef on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Why is parametric design important for future sustainable cities? Because you can optimize a modular system by changing one or several of its parameters. It can economize the design and construction process especially in high-rise buildings. Diagrid systems are a kind of modular structural system. Diagrid structures take advantage of prefabricated and modular elements but, for a long time, the only structural pattern used in this system was the triangular modulus and lately the hexagonal modulus. In this work we tried to suggest a new pattern for them. In the diagrid systems, most of the optimizations have been devoted to the modification of the angle of diagonal members and dimensions of sections. Nevertheless, other optimization methods based on changing the configuration may be useful such as the modification of modules, and the omitting of the inefficient braces. The suggestion of a corrected pattern to increase the performance (increasing the structure stiffness and reducing the material consumption) has been considered. It can not only suggest a defined solution for the designing of transitional zones from hexagonal pattern to triangular pattern but also may enhance the shear stiffness, so proposing a new pattern can be desired.

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