Engineering optimization engine for reducing weight, complexity and embodied carbon in steel construction

Phase I proved the technical feasibility of a steel carbon optimization tool based on Autodesk Revit. The goal was to validate that new embodied carbon cost values for steel production and installation help inform optimization of both simple and complex (bracing) connections to holistically optimize the steel structure. The goal for Phase II is to productize and commercialize this technology. Success will be measured by achieving 95% steel connection automation of 5 typical steel structures and validating the decision-making process for balancing carbon reduction and steel costs on 5 Revit projects Ā The 12-month project will be delivered via 3 sequential work packages (WPs):Ā Ā WP1:Ā Deliver a wide-flange beam to column vertical bracing connection tool that designs, details and optimizes for cost and carbon. Ā WP2: Expand gravity connection design and optimization calculations to include blast-progressive collapse limit state checks and detailing requirements that support inelastic or ductility requirements. Ā WP3: Productize the Revit user interface to provide carbon-carbon analysis. This includes 3D visualization of steel connections, database customization and scalability and product internationalization. Ā Three identified challenges must be addressed to complete the project vision.Ā The first is the optimization of the Wide Flange Vertical Brace. Our expectation is that the Qnect software will iterate over one million iterations to identify the most efficient connections including the size, shape and thickness of the gusset. This will require complex database and coding techniques to ensure reasonable expectations of response time.Ā Ā The second challenge is delivering on the user interface design identified in Phase I. The goal is to offer this solution across 3D modeling platforms to have the most impact worldwide. This will require writing the code in a manner that can be implemented across many API tools. Also remaining gaps in carbon declarations (EPDs) must be filled to ensure useful calculations. Ā Finally, Qnect must deliver on a tool that no other vendor offers: The Blast Progressive collapse limit states.Ā This will require meeting with many stakeholders within the DoD and steel industry to identify all requirements. These requirements may necessitate obtaining new data from 3D modeling tools that currently do not exist, hence we may have to integrate with a Structural Analysis tool.Ā Ā To overcome these technical challenges, Qnect will explore new optimization algorithms that ensure faster computational speeds. They will explore generic API interfaces like Speckle which are open source and already connected to most 3D modeling solutions. They will work with steel industry leaders to fill remaining EPD gaps. Finally they will leverage existing relationships with leading structural analysis vendors that do finite element analysis on the cloud, since cloud-based integrations will maintain QnectÆs differentiating optimization speeds. Ā