An introduction to digital workflows

如图1所示，结构元素的设计始于分析。该分析从建筑饰面，植物，风载和其他施加的负载中得出的负载中获取信息。一旦完成，分析就会输出有关特定元素上力的信息。该元素的设计采用分析数据，材料因素和基于代码的系数和经验数据来设计元素。

虽然简单的联合国derstand and easy to implement this linear workflow is incomplete. A somewhat more refined process is shown below:

图2

This illustrates that following element design, the proposed section size is put back into the original model to determine the effects of the change in stiffness on the overall frame action of the structure. This process is familiar to most engineers and may seem somewhat trivial, but it provides the basis on which we can begin to understand the process of digital workflows and the use of software in mapping these processes.

Why digital?

实际上，一个更复杂的工作流程在建筑设计中起作用。建筑物中通常不仅有独立的结构元素，而且需要为结构中的每个元素进行这些过程。

随着相对较小的结构（例如简单的帧分析），这似乎并不特别繁重 - 但是随着复杂性的增加，或者随着要分析的框架数量增加，要进行的工作量也增加。

The problem scales linearly. If the goal was to reinitialise analysis with the new member sizes and run checks on the stiffness of the frames the problem would scale with the number of possible interactions between elements.

对于一个小框架（例如图形的框架），使用不同刚度的可能组合有限的组合，问题相对容易解决。

With larger frames, more complex structures or more elements to consider, the complexity of the problem doubles with each additional member (figure 3).

Without consideration of the process by which analysis and design takes place, there is risk of duplication of work, errors and considerable (yet unnecessary) investment of time to undertake design checks manually.

图3

Isn’t this just BIM?

No. The essence of computational design is to create adaptive flows of information that inform the design and eventual documentation of the structure in BIM software.

强大的数字工作流程对于生成和修改BIM模型中持有的信息至关重要。BIM的信息建模方面对于通过计算设计产生的信息并将其传播到设计团队，站点操作员和建筑物的未来所有者中至关重要。

BIM是一种设计工具，但它主要是在项目过程中发展的产品，以包含最终用于采购，成本，编程以及建筑运营和维护的管理的信息。

作为设计顾问，至少在一个传统项目上，我们在此过程中的作用通常非常有限。但是，随着行业通过设计，构建和操作阶段的发展，我们的模型中嵌入数据（包括规格和材料数据）变得越来越重要。

数字工作流的采用是有效地管理这种越来越多的数据，并确保可以管理质量检查和QC程序的关键。

关键目标 - 避免并防止数据死胡同

图4说明了许多工程设计公司的常见做法：数据死端和数字工作流不佳。在此示例中，数据由团队的几个不同成员并联创建和重新创建。结果是断开的模型和困难的修订管理。

Figure 4

It is desirable to leverage technology to avoid such situations; a change in the overall architecture of the management of data within the design process may be required. When defining our workflows, you should consider not only what benefits structural engineers, but what benefits others within the team.

例如，使用特定的文件格式和建模实践可能会导致其他学科能够使用共享参数（最常见的几何）并在设计实践和更广泛的项目团队中获得总体跨学科效率。

The role of the engineer and technician should be carefully considered in this process as roles within the design team are becoming closely linked.

Similarly, the whole project cycle should be considered. In the case where the structural engineer may take the design to a pre-fabrication level of detail, early discussions with the fabricators and contractors to agree exchange formats and sharing common data should be considered.

Contractual issues and limitations of scope must always be considered, consideration of various suitable qualifications for sharing information must be made (eg there may be instances where sensitive information should not be given to parties who do not require it).

但是，在许多情况下，以这种方式工作可能是互惠互利的，因为在审查制造商的建议或商店图纸时，它更加协作和简化，如果结构工程师没有创建它们。

超出计算

The investment of resources to construct a robust and adaptable digital workflow within the design office can seem time consuming and resource intensive. There are serious considerations to be undertaken before embarking on such a process. However, the benefits will outweigh initial investment.

Providing a suitable workflow is implemented, the inherent scalability of the design process with modern computing power offers savings in time and effort for almost all scales of project. Automating calculations and modifying analysis models by simply altering base geometry can free engineers from more tedious tasks and improve the quality of their design input during the design phase.