This thesis investigated the capabilities of tensegrity systems to act as windbreaks in a passage between parallel buildings mitigating the wind tunnel effect. The aim of this study was twofold. At first, it was an attempt to simulate tensegrity systems using the knowledge of particle-spring system in processing environment and to implement Genetic Algorithms (GA) in unit scale using FFD simulation in the evaluation process in order to find the optimum tensegrity unit that can effectively front the wind speed. The use of particle - spring system as a tool in simulation gives the ability to involve more parameters in the form – finding process opening new directions in computational design. The GA was implemented for three different tensegrity units concerning the number of the struts (5, 7, 9) that is closely related with the porosity of each unit. The configuration of the fittest unit of each category was kept in order to be used in later steps. The second part of the investigation relies on the exhibition of the wind funnel effect using FFD simulation and on the use of GA in the scope of finding the optimum combination of tensegrity units using the above findings in order to solve the problem. The choice of bottom up algorithmic strategy that uses modular tensegrity components with different level of porosity in order to find the final optimum configuration gave a more feasible approach to methodology process and to the final implementation.
Since the number of projects that dealt with this phenomenon is very limited and the use of tensegrity system as a design – solution tool for this environmental problem is innovative, extensive and combinatorial literature review upon to different aspects was necessary. A thorough investigation in tensegrity system field and the analysis of the different research directions offers a deep understanding of the capabilities that systems have and the potentials uses that will have. Towards this direction and having as a general need to deal with environmental aspects of a city and problems that affect it, causing the non- use of outdoor spaces from the citizens; tensegrity systems are selected as design tool that could propose a different solution to wind tunnel effect mitigation.
The particle - spring system approach and the implementation of GA with the modifications discussed were successfully integrated to tensegrity unit simulation. The evolutionary method (GA) used for form – finding meets the requirements of the tensegrity simulation properties and the use of FFD suits the needs in evaluation process. The experiments and results proved that the methodology that is followed could verify the initial hypothesis. It is evident that tensegrity system can be used in outdoor spaces as windbreaks mitigating wind funnel effect. Despite the fact that the use of FFD as simulation approach is used in early design stages that demand more time-efficiency rather than accuracy in results, it is clear of the methodology part that this thesis enhancing only the fluid solver used and implementing some other modifications that discussed in the critical review it can yield more accurate results and it can be used in engineering projects as well.
Concluding, this thesis apart from proving its initial hypothesis and suggesting the innovative approach of using tensegrity structures to address the specific environmental phenomenon, it can also act as the initial step for further research on the field. The whole applied methodology has been carefully selected in order to be re-usable when trying to solve a different issue and portable into being used into later design stages closer to actual construction and more engineering oriented studies. This combination is what really makes this thesis important that one would argue that it is an extremely promising study, which can open new ways into architectural design approaches and implementations.
Since the number of projects that dealt with this phenomenon is very limited and the use of tensegrity system as a design – solution tool for this environmental problem is innovative, extensive and combinatorial literature review upon to different aspects was necessary. A thorough investigation in tensegrity system field and the analysis of the different research directions offers a deep understanding of the capabilities that systems have and the potentials uses that will have. Towards this direction and having as a general need to deal with environmental aspects of a city and problems that affect it, causing the non- use of outdoor spaces from the citizens; tensegrity systems are selected as design tool that could propose a different solution to wind tunnel effect mitigation.
The particle - spring system approach and the implementation of GA with the modifications discussed were successfully integrated to tensegrity unit simulation. The evolutionary method (GA) used for form – finding meets the requirements of the tensegrity simulation properties and the use of FFD suits the needs in evaluation process. The experiments and results proved that the methodology that is followed could verify the initial hypothesis. It is evident that tensegrity system can be used in outdoor spaces as windbreaks mitigating wind funnel effect. Despite the fact that the use of FFD as simulation approach is used in early design stages that demand more time-efficiency rather than accuracy in results, it is clear of the methodology part that this thesis enhancing only the fluid solver used and implementing some other modifications that discussed in the critical review it can yield more accurate results and it can be used in engineering projects as well.
Concluding, this thesis apart from proving its initial hypothesis and suggesting the innovative approach of using tensegrity structures to address the specific environmental phenomenon, it can also act as the initial step for further research on the field. The whole applied methodology has been carefully selected in order to be re-usable when trying to solve a different issue and portable into being used into later design stages closer to actual construction and more engineering oriented studies. This combination is what really makes this thesis important that one would argue that it is an extremely promising study, which can open new ways into architectural design approaches and implementations.