Abstract

NGOBENI, N; MARNEWICK, A L  and  VAN VUUREN, D J. A parametric design process model for box culverts. J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. [online]. 2021, vol.63, n.3, pp.29-42. ISSN 2309-8775.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2309-8775/2021/v63n3a3.

This research proposes a parametric design process model to improve the structural engineering project team performance by automating the design and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. Although standardised design procedures can reduce the design time of repetitive structures such as box culverts, the increased time and effort required for revising construction drawings negatively impacts a project's performance. A literature review was conducted to develop a theoretical process model to improve the current structural design optimisation and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. The proposed process model was validated using structured interviews with professionally registered structural engineers for appropriateness to box culverts and the potential to improve project performance. The data analysis revealed that the interviewed engineers were in favour of automating the design optimisation and three-dimensional modelling procedures of box culverts. Moreover, parametric design automation would result in improved project performance when encountering an inevitable design change. However, the user's control over the output of each process should not be discarded. This study can help readers understand the transformation of the structural design and three-dimensional modelling procedures of repetitive structures, such as box culverts, into an algorithmic form to achieve improved project performance.

Keywords : parametric design; automation; culvert; BIM; 3D modelling; design optimisation.

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