Beijing National Swimming Centre, China American Institute of Architects Building Information Model (BIM) Awards Competition 2004 (TAP) Knowledge

Transcription

1 Beijing National Swimming Centre, China American Institute of Architects Building Information Model (BIM) Awards Competition 2004 (TAP) Knowledge Community

2 Beijing National Swimming Centre The National Swimming Centre will amaze the world at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and will remain as a dramatic and exciting sporting venue. Affectionately known as the Water Cube, it started life as an idea for a design competition. The design competition entry was submitted by the China State Construction & Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in collaboration with Arup and Sydney based Architects PTW. The competition called for a world-class swimming centre in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. This premier recreation centre will be m² and have five pools, including one with a wave machine, and seating for spectators. Internal of the Beijing National Swimming Centre

3 Structural design Its structural design is based on the most effective sub-division of three-dimensional space - the fundamental arrangement of organic cells and the natural formation of soap bubbles. This naturally-occurring arrangement contributed to this seeming random generation of structure, but it is in fact a solution that is extremely repetitive and highly buildable - removing the usual architectural inspiration that defines extreme geometry in building design, thus nature beats technology. Arup based the structural design on Trinity College Physics Professors Weaire and Phelan s proposed solution to Lord Kelvin s conundrum, How would one tile an infinite array of cells in 3D space so as to minimise the surface area between them? The geometric shape The structure of the building is based on a repeating unit, which comprises two 12-sided polyhedrons and six 14-sided polyhedrons. This repeating unit is tiled infinitely in 3D space, rotated and then sliced about prescribed axes to form the final building geometry. The entire building will be clad in ETFE foil cushions which have excellent insulation properties and will create a greenhouse effect. Twenty per cent of the solar energy falling on the building is trapped within it and is used to heat the pools and the interior area. Schematic illustrating geometry formation

4 New technology 3D CAD modelling used by Arup was crucial in the creation of the Water Cube, modelling the complex structure quickly allowing for refinement and improvements in design. The modelling and documentation of a building with steel beam members and nodes was a fairly daunting proposal. This process was further compounded by the fact that we knew the structural optimisation process was going to be constantly evolving and changing. Structure optimisation program Arup developed a structure optimisation program, which carried out the structural analysis, optimisation and design. CAD package conversion program To guarantee that all the elements within the structural analysis model were imported correctly to the 3D CAD model, Arup created a conversion program run from within our CAD package. The program modeled the entire structure in 25 minutes rather than months if done manually. From that fullycoordinated 3D CAD model, we were able to extract all of our elevations, sections and details to produce our final documentation drawings. Three-dimensional wire frame models were then made and saved to 3D AutoCAD electronic models. This allowed the client and contractors to see every object within the building with its relevant information. The iterative procedure would determine the optimum size of each member that satisfied all design constraints, resulting in the minimum structural self-weight. During the optimisation phase, steel beam members under 190 different load cases were tested. Its job was to test for possible scenarios, challenging it to make the steel structure strong, but as light as possible. The benefit of an automated program is that it allows for the process to be repeated allowing many design options to be considered quickly and accurately. Sectional image showing proposed restaurant area within swimming centre

5 The model Part of the competition rules called for a physical model to be provided. This was achieved by exporting the MicroStation 3D model to an STL file (stereolithography) for the purpose of creating a rapid prototype model. The physical model was created from a process called SLA in which liquid epoxy resin is solidified by a laser following the STL file information to give a semi-transparent robust plastic model. After the consortium (Arup, PTW, CSCEC & CSCEC+DESIGN) won the design competition and prior to Arup progressing with the design and VBA scripting, Professor Fu of CSCEC proved the Arup geometry worked mathematically with a script using the Weaire and Phelan solution. This was then exported via DXF as a wire frame model into Strand 7, a structural analysis package. This collaboration continued throughout the entire design phase with Arup, PTW and design partners frequently exchanging 3D information models enhancing communication and coordination amongst the design team, and proactively addressing potential design issues. Input data for the MicroStation scripts Once the main geometry was decided, the focus of CAD scripting shifted to being able to provide a comprehensive 3D model of the final analysis model. The first requirement of this was to be able to translate the structural analysis data into MicroStation, which we did by exporting the data to a custom written file format before using that file as input for the MicroStation scripts. Rapid prototype resin model Completed prototype model with ETFE pillows

6 Bentley Structural Within Bentley Structural, libraries of section sizes allow quick and accurate modelling, even nonstandard sections in the case of fabricated RHS and SHS can be added into text files and subsequently used within the structural model. These sections can then be extracted into a material list report, which can give total length, weight, grades and quantities for each type of section. By setting up a section file model and then referencing in the main structural 3D model, this solved documentation of the structure. The section drawing is an empty file that has every vertical, horizontal and detail section location defined within this one file. It was calculated that 112 sections would have to be created from the model to adequately document the entire building. To achieve this each section has its own unique name and extracting to a specific directory. Documentation extraction file The reason for this highly automated method of drawing production was it reduced the risk of human error, and allowed us to rebuild the model from scratch each time the structure was improved. This method proved its worth prior to final tender documentation when a complete new 3D model was imported from the analysis model. From this model new plans, elevation, sections and details were extracted and all 65 drawings updated over one weekend. Detail documentation drawings from 3D Model Wall elevation documentation drawings from 3D Model

7 Interoperability All issues of interoperability were solved by the use of Bentley products: The export of the original 3D model in studio max for the competition winning AVI The export to STL format for rapid prototype physical models The continual import and export of analysis model to CAD models The continual visualisations directly from Bentley Structural The exports to Autocad for use by our design partners CSCEC and PTW The full documentation of the entire steel structure Cultural change The National Swimming Centre proved that use of Bentley Structural was invaluable in completing this project, it is unlikely that we would have been able to produce such a complicated geometry and documentation using any other software packages, especially in the timescale available. This project has begun to prove that cultural change is beginning 3D engineering, design, planning and documentation is invaluable, cost effective and an efficient method of working. Construction program Site works began with a groundbreaking ceremony held on 24 December The first stage was the 180m x 180m x 8m deep excavation of the site. Construction of the foundation, basement, lower slab levels and pool decks has now been substantially completed and the structure is up to ground level. Construction of the superstructure steelwork will commence in early July External steel frame perspective

8 Return on value (value achieved for the project divided by value expended in effort) Estimated cost of manual processes and procedures US$ months Actual US$ months Project savings due to accuracy, accessibility and repeatability of the information delivered : US$ months Therefore return on value = 3.5M M-0.5M + 6 months + 15 months 7 months = M 7 months Award winning technology Bentley Award of Excellence 2004 La Biennale di Venezia Atmosphere category, Venice 2004 Fast Facts Project cost: US$ million Gross floor area: m² 4000 bubbles, maximum bubble diameter is 7.5m Seating capacity: people Arup Services Structural, Façade+ESD, Fire, MEP, Acoustics, Transport, Communications and Environmental Design Consortium Arup, PTW, CSCEC & CSCEC+DESIGN Architectural visulisation of the Water Cube

9 The Design / Construction Team Team leader China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) Design Partner Architect PTW Architects with China State Construction International Design Architectural Design and internal planning Engineer Arup with China State Construction International Design Design competition Arup + PTW Scheme design Arup superstructure CSCEC+DESIGN substructure Preliminary design Arup superstructure CSCEC+DESIGN substructure Documentation Arup roof and wall steelwork CSCEC+DESIGN all remaining structure Project name Beijing National Swimming Centre Project/facility type Aquatic Centre Location Beijing, China Client China State Construction & Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) International Completion date December 2006 Building Size 176m x 176m x 29m high = m² Lead design, office China State Construction & Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) International Address: 7th Floor, Beijing Sunflower Tower No.37 Maizidian St., Chaoyang District Beijing, China Tel: Fax: Website: Lead construction firm, office China State Construction & Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) International Address: 7th Floor, Beijing Sunflower Tower No.37 Maizidian St., Chaoyang District Beijing, China Tel: Fax: Mob: Website: Design phase collaborators Arup China State Construction International (Shenzhen) Design Consultants PTW Architects Construction phase collaborators Vector Foiltec (ETFE Facade) Submitter s contact information Stuart Bull, Arup Address: Level 10, 201 Kent Street Sydney NSW Australia Tel: +61 (0) Fax: +61 (0) stuart.bull@arup.com.au Image credits Arup + CSCEC + PTW