JP7499092B2 - Design Support Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a design support device.

A design support system for steel structures is known that includes a process for inputting basic data about the steel structure and a process for generating structural component data for the steel structure based on the basic data and predetermined component placement rules that have been set up in advance (for example, Patent Document 1).

There is also known a structural analysis information generating device that inputs design CAD information and generates information indicating the centerline of a building based on information indicating the shapes, dimensions, and positions of multiple columns or multiple walls contained in the design CAD information (for example, Patent Document 2).

A building CAD system is also known that determines the number of each product component used in all planar modules included in a building, the number of structural components obtained from each product component by cutting the product component, and information indicating the size and placement position of each structural component (for example, Patent Document 3).

JP 2004-245040 A JP 2008-158793 A JP 2017-10413 A

In the technology described in Patent Document 1, after basic data is input on the input screen, structural member data for a steel structure is generated and the generated results are displayed. However, Patent Document 1 does not describe generating multiple candidate combinations of structural members and determining the optimal combination.

In the technology described in Patent Document 2, data for structural analysis is created in a continuous process from CAD data of the architectural design, including the volume of the building. However, Patent Document 2 does not describe generating multiple candidate combinations of structural members and determining the optimal combination.

In addition, the above-mentioned Patent Document 3 does not mention generating multiple candidate combinations of structural members and determining the optimal combination.

Taking the above facts into consideration, the present invention aims to support the structural design of buildings using optimal combinations of structural components.

The design support device according to the present invention includes a node assignment unit that assigns nodes to the boundary lines of sections in the volume or planar shape of the building to be designed according to the inputted initial conditions for each of a plurality of initial conditions, a structural member candidate generation unit that divides the volume or plane between node pairs selected from the nodes assigned according to the initial conditions for each of the plurality of initial conditions using a predetermined first objective function and generates candidate combinations of structural members based on the division results, and a score calculation unit that calculates a score for the candidate combinations of structural members generated by the structural member candidate generation unit for each of the plurality of initial conditions using a predetermined second objective function.

According to the design support device of the present invention, the node assignment unit assigns nodes to the boundary lines of the sections in the volume or planar shape of the building to be designed, for each of a plurality of initial conditions, in line with the initial conditions. The structural member candidate generation unit divides the volume or planar shape between node pairs selected from among the nodes assigned in line with the initial conditions, for each of the plurality of initial conditions, using a predetermined first objective function, and generates structural member combination candidates based on the division results. Then, the score calculation unit calculates a score for the structural member combination candidates generated by the structural member candidate generation unit, for each of the plurality of initial conditions, using a predetermined second objective function.

In this way, for each of a plurality of initial conditions, the volume or planar shape is divided between pairs of nodes selected using a first objective function from among the nodes assigned in accordance with the initial conditions, and candidate combinations of structural members are generated based on the division results. A score is calculated for the generated candidate combinations of structural members using a second objective function, thereby assisting in the structural design of a building using an optimal combination of structural members.

In the design support device according to the present invention, the first objective function is an objective function that includes the number of node pairs to be selected and the degree to which the volume or planar shape after division at the selected node pairs will be a convex shape. This makes it possible to divide the volume or planar shape of a building, taking into account the number of node pairs to be selected and the degree to which the volume or planar shape after division will be a convex shape.

In the design support device according to the present invention, the node assignment unit can randomly assign nodes on the boundary lines of compartments in the volume or planar shape of the input building to be designed, in accordance with the initial conditions. This makes it possible to generate a variety of combinations of structural members.

In the design support device according to the present invention, the second objective function is an objective function that includes the balance of the divided volumes or plan shapes, the floor height, the density or dispersion of the structural members, or the span of the structural members. This makes it possible to support the structural design of a building using an optimal combination of structural members, taking into account the density or dispersion of the structural members, or the span of the structural members.

The design support device according to the present invention can further include a display unit that displays the candidate combinations of the structural members selected according to the score, superimposed on the volume or planar shape. This makes it possible to more effectively support the structural design of buildings.

As described above, according to the design support device of the present invention, for each of a plurality of initial conditions, the volume or planar shape is divided between pairs of nodes selected using a first objective function from among the nodes assigned in accordance with the initial conditions, and based on the division results, combination candidates for structural members are generated. For the generated combination candidates for structural members, a score is calculated using a second objective function, thereby providing the effect of supporting the structural design of a building using an optimal combination of structural members.

1 is a block diagram showing a design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a functional block diagram showing a design support apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an image representing the volume of a building. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which nodes are added to the planar shape of a building. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how node pairs assigned to the planar shape of a building are selected and divided. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that displays a combination of columns superimposed on the volume of a building. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a design support processing routine of the design support device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the plan shape of a building, with rooms color-coded according to their uses.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of the design support device according to the present invention>
As shown in FIG. 1, a design support device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a CPU 12, a graphics card 13, a GPU 14, a RAM 16, a HDD 18, a communication interface 21, and a bus 23 for interconnecting these components.

The CPU 12 and GPU 14 execute various programs. The RAM 16 is used as a work area when the CPU 12 executes the various programs. The HDD 18, which serves as a recording medium, stores various programs and data, including a program for executing the design support processing routine described below.

When the design support device 100 in this embodiment is represented by functional blocks along with a program for executing a design support processing routine, it becomes as shown in FIG. 2. The design support device 100 has an input unit 10, a calculation unit 20, and an output unit 50.

The input unit 10 accepts as input the planar shape of the building to be designed. For example, it accepts as input the planar shape of the three-dimensional space of the volume of the building to be designed, as shown in FIG. 3, projected onto a two-dimensional plane. The input unit 10 also accepts as input multiple initial conditions related to the assignment of nodes. For example, it accepts multiple constraints related to the interval at which nodes are assigned, the number of nodes assigned, and the positions at which they are assigned as initial conditions.

The calculation unit 20 includes an initial setting unit 22, a node assignment unit 24, a structural member candidate generation unit 26, a score calculation unit 28, and a display unit 30.

The initial setting unit 22 sets one of the multiple initial conditions received as the initial condition for node assignment.

The node assignment unit 24 randomly assigns multiple nodes to the boundary lines of the compartments in the input building plan shape in accordance with the set initial conditions (Figure 4). Figure 4 shows an example in which multiple nodes are randomly assigned to the boundary lines of the compartments in plan shape A.

The structural member candidate generation unit 26 repeatedly selects a pair of nodes from the multiple nodes provided by the node assignment unit 24 using a predetermined first objective function, and divides the planar shape between the selected pair of nodes (FIG. 5). For example, for each pair of nodes, the objective function value is calculated using a first objective function including the number of node pairs to be selected when the planar shape is divided by the pair, the degree to which the planar shape after division by the selected pair of nodes becomes a convex shape, and the balance of the divided planar shape, and the pair of nodes with the optimal objective function value is selected and the planar shape is divided. This is repeated until a predetermined iteration end condition is satisfied. The iteration end condition may be that the number of iterations reaches an upper limit, that the shapes of all the divided planes satisfy a predetermined condition, or that the objective function value converges. FIG. 5(A) shows an example in which the planar shape A is divided between one selected pair of nodes, and planar shapes B and C are obtained. FIG. 5(B) shows an example in which the planar shape B is further divided between one selected pair of nodes, and planar shapes D and E are obtained. Figure 5(C) shows an example in which planar shape D is further divided between one selected node pair to obtain planar shapes F and G.

The structural member candidate generation unit 26 generates candidate combinations of structural members to be placed on the building for each type of structural member (columns, beams, walls) based on the results of segmenting the planar shape of the building.

For example, based on the generation rules for structural members for the divided planar shapes that are defined for each type of structural member (pillars, beams, walls, etc.), structural members are generated on the boundary lines of the compartments in the divided planar shapes, and candidate combinations of structural members are generated.

The above processes of the initial setting unit 22, the node assignment unit 24, and the structural member candidate generation unit 26 are repeated while changing the initial conditions. This results in multiple sets of candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member (columns, beams, walls, etc.).

The score calculation unit 28 calculates a score for each of the multiple initial conditions using a predetermined second objective function for the candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member by the structural member candidate generation unit 26 in response to the initial conditions.

For example, for candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member, a score is calculated using a second objective function expressed using the balance of the divided spaces, the floor height, the density/dispersion of the structural members, and the span of the structural members. Specifically, the score is calculated using a second objective function that is defined so that the better the balance of the divided spaces, the higher the score, the closer the floor height is to a standard value, the higher the score, the closer the density/dispersion of the structural members is to a standard value, the higher the score, and the closer the span of the structural members is to a standard value.

The score calculation unit 28 determines candidate combinations of structural members according to the calculated scores. For example, it determines a set of candidate combinations of structural members for each type of structural member that maximizes the score.

The display unit 30 displays the candidate combinations of structural members for each type of structural member determined by the score calculation unit 28 on a volume or a planar shape via the output unit 50 (Figure 6). Figure 6 shows an example in which the generated combination of columns is displayed superimposed on the volume of the building to be designed.

<Operation of the design support device>
Next, the operation of the design support device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the input unit 10 accepts as input the planar shape of the building to be designed, and also accepts multiple initial conditions, and then the design support device 100 executes the design support processing routine shown in FIG. 7.

In step S100, the initial setting unit 22 acquires the input planar shape of the building and multiple initial conditions.

In step S101, the initial setting unit 22 sets one of the multiple initial conditions that have been received.

In step S102, the node assignment unit 24 randomly assigns multiple nodes to the boundary lines of the compartments in the input building plan shape according to the initial conditions set in step S101.

In step S104, the structural member candidate generation unit 26 uses the first objective function to select pairs of nodes from the multiple nodes provided by the initial setting unit 22, and repeatedly divides the plane between the selected pairs of nodes.

In step S106, the structural member candidate generation unit 26 generates candidate combinations of structural members to be placed on the building for each type of structural member (columns, beams, walls) based on the results of segmenting the planar shape of the building.

In step S108, it is determined whether the processing of steps S101 to S106 has been repeated for all initial conditions. If there are any initial conditions for which the processing of steps S101 to S106 has not been performed, the process returns to step S101 and sets those initial conditions. On the other hand, if the processing of steps S101 to S106 has been repeated for all initial conditions, the process proceeds to step S110.

In step S110, the score calculation unit 28 calculates a score for each of the multiple initial conditions using a predetermined second objective function for the candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member by the structural member candidate generation unit 26 in response to the initial conditions.

In step S112, the score calculation unit 28 determines candidate combinations of structural members based on the calculated scores.

In step S114, the display unit 30 superimposes the candidate combinations of structural members for each type of structural member determined in step S112 on the volume or planar shape, and displays them on the output unit 50, and the design support processing routine is terminated.

As described above, according to the design support device of the embodiment of the present invention, for each of a plurality of initial conditions, a volume or planar shape is divided between a pair of nodes selected using a first objective function from among the nodes assigned in accordance with the initial conditions, and candidate combinations of structural members are generated based on the division results, and a score is calculated for the generated candidate combinations of structural members using a second objective function. This makes it possible to support the structural design of a building using an optimal combination of structural members.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, nodes may be added to the boundaries of the sections in the volume of the building, and a first objective function may be used to select pairs of nodes from the multiple nodes, and the process of dividing the sections between the selected pairs of nodes may be repeated. In this case, candidate combinations of structural members to be placed on the building may be generated for each type of structural member (columns, beams, walls) based on the results of dividing the volume of the building.

In addition, the input building volume may be divided into volumes or uses for each planar shape, and a score may be calculated for each divided volume or planar shape for the candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member, using a second objective function defined for that use. For example, as shown in the top view of FIG. 8, a planar shape representing a building and color-coded for the use of each room may be input, and a score may be calculated for each room for the candidate combinations of structural members generated for each type of structural member, using a second objective function defined for the use of the room.

The program of the present invention may also be provided by storing it on a storage medium.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Input unit 20 Calculation unit 22 Initial setting unit 24 Node assignment unit 26 Structural member candidate generation unit 28 Score calculation unit 30 Display unit 50 Output unit 100 Design support device

Claims (5)

a node assigning unit that assigns nodes along the initial conditions to boundaries of sections in a volume or a planar shape of a building to be designed that is input for each of a plurality of initial conditions;
a structural member candidate generation unit that divides the volume or planar shape between node pairs selected by using a predetermined first objective function from among the nodes assigned according to the initial conditions for each of the plurality of initial conditions, and generates combination candidates of structural members based on the division result;
a score calculation unit that calculates a score for the combination candidates of the structural members generated by the structural member candidate generation unit for each of the plurality of initial conditions by using a second objective function that is determined in advance;
A design support device including: The design support device according to claim 1, wherein the first objective function is an objective function including the number of node pairs to be selected and the degree to which the volume or planar shape after division at the selected node pairs becomes a convex shape. The design support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the node assignment unit randomly assigns nodes on the boundary lines of compartments in the volume or planar shape of the input building to be designed, in accordance with the initial conditions. The design support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second objective function is an objective function including the balance of the divided volume or planar shape, the floor height, the density or dispersion of structural members, or the span of structural members. The design support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further includes a display unit that displays the candidate combinations of the structural members selected according to the score by superimposing them on the volume or planar shape.