My ongoing PhD research focuses on developing agentbased modeling (ABM) methods to modularize concrete building elements for prefabrication using additive formwork. This method enhances existing planning tools by integrating the characteristics of fused deposition modeling (FDM) with structural requirements. A specific geometric requirement for the modularization of monolithic design geometries into three-dimensional puzzle pieces (modules) is the necessity to create solid, interlocking, non intersecting volumetric elements. This is fundamentally different from e.g. surface- or mesh-based segmentation approaches. Therefore in this research, a given designed geometry is intersected with specifically clustered groups of voxels, resulting in ready-to-produce freeform geometries. The geometric modularisation method is combined with an agent-based simulation in order to iterate through the complex parameterspace of different modularization variants.
University of Stuttgart, Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), 2020 – ongoing
General Concept: Input geometry, voxelization, agent-based self-organization, resulting modularization.
Selected Project Publications:
- Stieler, D., Schwinn, T., & Menges, A. (2022). Additive formwork in precast construction – Agent-based Methods for Fabrication-aware Modularization of Concrete Building Elements. Post Carbon – Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, CAADRIA 2022.
- Stieler, D., Schwinn, T., & Menges, A. (2022). Volumetric intersections: Modularization approaches for freeform prefab concrete construction. Civil Engineering Design, 4(1–3), Article 1–3.
- Stieler, D., Schwinn, T., & Menges, A. (2022). Automatisierte Bauteilzerlegung für Betonfertigteile aus additiv hergestellten Schalungen. Beton- Und Stahlbetonbau, 117(5), Article 5.
