Heterogenous Material Simulation In Architectural Timber Design

Developments in computational modelling approaches for heterogenous biomaterials in architecture are presented with a focus on glue-laminated timber composites. Architectural design tools typically do not interface with the materiality of timber elements beyond the assignment of some overall properties or representations. In-depth performance (mechanical, hygro-mechanical, hygroscopic) simulations require explicit assignment of variable material properties and orientations throughout the model. This requirement is made evident in holistic modelling methods for the digital timber value chain (Svilans, Tamke, Ramsgaard Thomsen, 2022). Workflows for interfacing geometric architectural models – such as building information models (BIM) – with open-source finite element (FE) analysis tools are presented, with a particular emphasis on how these are instrumentalized in the early design stages as methods for design exploration. Exploring new forms of hybrid glue-laminated timber products through detailed performance simulations therefore becomes possible.