O que é Design Automation?

Design Automation can take number of different meanings, but simply it is the process of automating the labor intensive parts of the structural engineering design process such as modeling, análise, Projeto, optimization or detailing. Automation in structural engineering is not a new concept. Engineers have been using computers to automate the analysis of a structure via FEM software packages for decades. But now, we’re looking at automating even more components of the process.

It doesn’t necessarily mean the entire process will be automated without engineer touch, but it does mean that engineers will be able to leverage technology to perform the tedious and repetitive tasks to get more done. Instead of having to model the structure manually, the client/project manager can generate the model so that the engineer receives an already built structural analysis model, com exactly what they want.

The software industry is supporting this. We’ve seen a move towards API functionality in a few other AEC software packages (for instance Revit) and our very own Análise estrutural & Design API, aimed towards helping the industry achieve design automation.


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    A Simple ExampleAutomating Modeling

    Para este exemplo, we’re going to draw from an existing client who has automated part of the design of platforms and substructures. The structures are quite similar, but require a quick turnaround time for the client. MonkeyToe’s solution was to build modelling/loading platform for their sales and project managers to use. This meant their structural engineer could receive a near complete structural model of what the client wants acelerando seu processo de design preliminar por 90%!

    Sem perceber, o gerente de vendas pode fazer muito mais trabalho para a MonkeyToe ao construir a estrutura analítica exatamente da maneira que o cliente deseja. Agora, quando chega ao engenheiro, eles podem gastar muito menos tempo criando o modelo e mais refinando o design, reduzindo o custo e finalizando as entregas.

    O que está aberto para automação de design?

    Modelagem

    O exemplo acima dá uma ótima visão de como podemos capacitar o gerente de projeto e até mesmo o cliente, to remove the modelling and preliminary design process. With the right technology, these parties can build a structural model themselves and handover an analytical model to the structural engineer of what they want. From there the structural engineer can focus on fine-tuning the model and improving the design to reduce costs for the client. Any changes that come through, will be automatic and allow the engineer to always have the latest model.

    Another example is using software like Grasshopper and Dynamo. These packages allow engineers to model more complex structure, perform form-finding and even automate the rebar detailing process.

    Análise + Verificações de design

    Consider another of our API de Engenharia Estrutural clients; a prominent design consultant in Sydney, Austrália. They were contracted to design 100+ overhead cable structures. To have an engineer sit there and manually model 100+ of these (not to mention all the client changes that came through over this 12 month project) would have taken months. Em vez de, they wrote a script to loop through and model, save and analyse all of these structures with the click of a button. The models were built and stored in the SkyCiv file manager, so the engineer could open the file at any time to review the model and results in SkyCiv Structural 3D.

    There is a lot of room to automate the analysis and interpretation of results; particularly for repeatable structures.

    Design Optimization

    Structural engineers are unfortunately quite time-poor. With clients wanting packages released earlier and earlier, there isn’t much time for engineers to experiment and try different designs. With the right technology, engineers should be able to automatically test hundreds or even thousands of alternative designs to find the best fit. This is an area of design automation that is probably a few years away, but is still on the horizon. This will hopefully result in more efficient, sustainable and cost-effective designs.

    Where to start?

    The good news is you’re probably already doing it! Think of that Excel sheet or VBA script that is currently saving you tens of hours a weekthat’s design automation. Now let’s expand that out to the rest of the structural engineering workflow:

    design automation in structural engineering gif animation

    Here we’re looking at automating the preliminary design part of the process. The one where the project isn’t won yet, where the job is uncertain, the design is changing and the client changes their mind half way though. Say we build a simple solution that captures the clients wants and automatically generates the model, applies the loads and runs some preliminary pass/check calculations. You’ve just shifted that part of the work to the client and given the answer they want in a matter of minutes. simplesmente modele a seguinte conexão, you the user get:

    • Mais rápido, exceptional service for your client
    • Time to focus on improving designs to be more cost-efficient
    • Larger profit margins on the same revenue and work being done.
    • Once tested, this solution reduces the risk of human error
    • UMA scalable solution to win more projects

    Entre em contato com a equipe da API SkyCiv para saber mais sobre como automatizar suas tarefas usando tecnologia:

    Resumo

    Design Automation is something we shouldn’t fear, but rather it’s something we should embrace. Technology like this helps us design faster, more efficiently and with less riskall while maintaining our profit margins. I’d love to speak to you if you have any questions on how design automation can potentially help your firms so feel free to connect on LinkedIn ou Entre em contato conosco today to learn more about our API and how we’re helping companies design smarter.

    Sam Carigliano CEO e cofundador da SkyCiv
    Sam Carigliano
    CEO e cofundador da SkyCiv
    BEng (Civil), BCom
    LinkedIn