Cross-phase automated structural design of modular buildings using a unified matrix method and multi-objective optimization

Traditional structural design of modular buildings involves multi-phase work, which is a labor-intensive process with low efficiency. The tasks in each stage are independent and fragmented. To address such problem, a crossphase automated structural design of modular buildings is proposed. From the computer-aided design plain drawing, the building elements are extracted to conduct the sematic segmentation of zones using the layer classification method and graph structure. Based on a unified matrix method, the categorized modules are arranged to meet the architectural functions and the structural analysis model is established. Then a multiobjective optimization method is applied to perform the structural design considering the safety demand and economic benefit of the structure. Lastly, the data file is generated to conduct the structure-to-digital model delivery. The proposed method is shown to be effective and fully automated through two practical cases. The proposed framework integrates module layout, parametric modeling, structural optimization and digital model generation as a continues procedure, which also realizes the efficient transfer of different data items including architectural plan, structural model and digital model. It provides a guideline to automated structural design of modular buildings.