Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Using MDO to Support
Sequential Design Decisions
Michael Lepech (PI)
Martin Fischer (co-PI)
Forest Flager
John Basbagill
CIFE TAC 2013
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Case Study: Multi-family Residential
CIFE TAC 2013
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Conceptual Design Problem
SCOPE
Housing buildings:
substructure ● shell ● interiors ● services
OBJECTIVES
(1) Minimize life-cycle cost
(2) Minimize carbon footprint
VARIABLES
(1) Number of buildings: 3 - 4
a
(2) Number of stories: 5 - 8
(3) Building footprint: H-shape
c
d
f
e
b
(4) Building orientation: 0-360°
CONSTRAINTS
(1) Gross Floor Area (GFA): 15,000m2
(2) Building width (a, b and f): >15m
(3) Distance to site perimeter: >20m
(4) Distance between building: >20m
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Design Exploration Today:
Is this sufficient?
DESIGN SPACE
• 1.46E11 possible design alternatives
CURRENT INDUSTRY PRACTICE
• 3 design alternatives evaluated
• 162 man hours required
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Introduction to MDO
“Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) involves the formalization
of design iteration and coordination to leverage computer processing
power to systematically search the design space.”
- MDO Technical Committee, AIAA (1991)
GEOMETRY
MODEL
DProfiler
CONSTRUCTION
COST
OPERATIONAL
COST
EMBODIED
IMPACT
OPERATIONAL
IMPACT
DProfiler
eQUEST, CostLab
SimaPro
eQUEST, SimaPro
OPTIMIZER
Genetic Algorithm
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
MDO Case Study Results
Life-Cycle Cost (USD, Millions)
225
KEY
+
Baseline
X Selected Designs
210
Infeasible Solution
3 Buildings, 5 Stories
3 Buildings, 6 Stories
+
195
3 Buildings, 7 Stories
3 Buildings, 8 Stories
4 Buildings, 5 Stories
180
4 Buildings, 6 Stories
4 Buildings, 7 Stories
4 Buildings, 8 Stories
165
275
280
285
290
295
Carbon Footprint (met kilotons CO2e)
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
MDO Case Study Results
Life-Cycle Cost (USD, Millions)
225
KEY
+
Baseline
X Selected Designs
210
Infeasible Solution
3 Buildings, 5 Stories
3 Buildings, 6 Stories
+
195
3 Buildings, 7 Stories
3 Buildings, 8 Stories
4 Buildings, 5 Stories
2
180
1
4 Buildings, 6 Stories
4 Buildings, 7 Stories
4 Buildings, 8 Stories
3
165
275
280
285
290
295
Carbon Footprint (met kilotons CO2e)
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
CIFE MDO Research
PAST
KBZ NATIONAL STADIUM
Scope:
ANALYSIS LAYER
Scale: 1:290.3
Steel roof structure
Savings: USD $4M (19%)
Support:
2009 CIFE Seed,
Autodesk
z
y
x
EDUCATIONAL BUILDING
Scope:
Steel superstructure
Savings:
USD $570K (21%)
Support:
Skanska
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
Scope:
Scope:
Structural system
Savings: USD $1.7M (7%)
Savings:
USD $4M (19%)
2012 CIFE Seed,
Beck
Support:
2009 CIFE Seed,
Autodesk
Support:
Structural system
CURRENT
• MDO class under development
• Ongoing MDO research
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Conventional vs. MDO Design Process
CONVENTIONAL
- system type
- system topology
- building massing
- orientation
CONCEPT
DEVELOPMENT
MDO
new information
- component sizing
DETAIL
new information
- building massing
- orientation
- system type
- system topology
- component sizing
CIFE TAC 2013
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Question
How can automated design exploration be
leveraged to support sequential design decisions?
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Goals
Develop a decision support methodology to provide stakeholders with
clear and quantitative information about:
Q1: What decisions are most important?
A:
Analyze relative influence that different decisions have on
performance criteria of interest.
Influence (%)
10
5
0
Glazing
Thickness
Cladding
Material
WWR
Wall
R-value
Height
Design Decision
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Goals
Q2: What is the impact of the decision on product performance?
A:
Analyze how a given decision affects the distribution of possible
solutions.
Probability of Occurrence (%)
KEY
No decisions made
18
1. Six floors
14
1. Six floors
2. Orientation = 323°
10
1. Six floors
2. Orientation = 323°
3. Steel cladding
6
2
150k
250k
350k
450k
Impact (kg CO2e)
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Goals
4
8
30
30
30
50
30
360
2.97E5
2.34E8
3
5
10
10
0
10
0
0
2.75E5
1.67E8
Number of
Buildings
Number of
Floors
Length a
(m)
Length b
(m)
Length c
(m)
Length d
(m)
Length e
(m)
Building
Orientation (deg)
Carbon Footprint
(kg CO2e)
Life Cycle
Cost ($)
Q3: What are the synergies between design decisions?
A: Analyze the relationship between coupled decisions.
Preference Shading: Worst
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Best
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Methods
1) Formalize design problem and process
2) Develop design space analysis methods
- Design of Experiments (DoE)
- Optimization
3) Develop data visualization methods
4) Implement decision support methodology
- Massively parallel (cloud) computing environment
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Validation
1) Parallel design charrettes / case studies
- Subjects: students and practitioners
- Groups: conventional (control) / decision support (intervention)
2) Sample metrics
- solution quality / feasibility
- design cycle duration
- total design cycles
- use of data visualization methods
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Schedule
Task
1: DEVELOP DESIGN SPACE ANALYSIS
METHODS
Timeline
Summer 2013
2: DEVELOP DATA VISUALIZATION METHODS
Fall 2013
3: IMPLEMENT DECISION SUPPORT METHOD
Fall 2013
4: DESIGN CHARETTES
5. JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
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Winter 2014
Spring 2014
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Research Impact
CIFE 2015 Goals
Schedule
Performance
dramatically reduced design cycle time
Cost
Conformance /
Sustainability
many alternatives evaluated quickly
better performing designs identified
early quantitative assessment of quality risks
IMPROVED TIME TO MARKET
COST CONFORMING, SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Opportunities for Industry Participation
Owners /
Designers /
Contractors
partner on case studies
participate in design charrettes
access to software / training
USE OF METHODS / TECHNOLOGY TO
SUPPORT BUSINESS OBJECTIVES
Software
Providers
partner to incorporate your software
into MDO environment
Learn from new methods developed and user
testing
IDENTIFY NEW TECHNOLOGY / METHODS
FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Questions?
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Using MDO to Support Sequential Design Decisions
Budget
Item Description
Cost
Post‐Doctorate Researcher
Flager, Forest
$26,179
Graduate Student Research Assistant
TBD
$45,626
TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED
CIFE TAC 2013
$71,805
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