Investigation of optimization techniques on structural-acoustical shaped concrete slabs in buildings

Computational tools have become integrated into design practice at the building scale and component scale. While there has been a resurgence of optimization techniques in room acoustics, research has been limited on utilizing optimization techniques on building components, such as a building's structural floor. Quality design solutions must be found at the component scale to accommodate for increased urbanization, environmental concerns, building utilization, and the well-being of the occupants, especially in relation to the tenants' acoustic environment. This presentation will discuss the use of several design space exploration and optimization approaches to generate and consider multiple permutations of shaped concrete floor designs. The shape of the ribbed slab will be varied in order to improve both the embodied energy of the concrete slab, which is proportional to mass, as well as the sound transmission class (STC). Three computational techniques (Latin Hypercube Sampling, multi-objective evolutionary optimization and constrained optimization) will be used to determine trade-offs in the design. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique will be highlighted with respect to the trade-off between reduced mass and improved STC. Finally, the importance of model resolution will be discussed in early design space exploration and optimization procedures.