Numerical Design and Analysis of Advanced Roof Systems in Architecture with Environmentally Friendly Low-Carbon Materials

Abstract

This research explores the viability of bamboo as a green replacement for timber in building practices. Bamboo’s advantages lie in its renewability, sustainability, and resilience to disasters, despite possessing mechanical properties similar to timber. The study proposes using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations, a potent instrument for designing and analyzing intricate structures under varying loads. The research explicitly employs FEA simulations to examine the application of bamboo in complex rooftop systems, using two commercial 3D CAD software—Rhino7 and Strand7. Rhino7 is responsible for 3D model creation and the member’s division into minuscule elements, whereas Strand7 is used to assign material properties, establish boundary conditions, carry out simulations, and analyze the outcomes. This research includes case studies of bamboo grid-shell structures and implements the suggested methodology. The study’s objective is to augment the scarce engineering data and to analyze bamboo as a material and the impact it can have on construction. The study’s results underscore the potential of eco-friendly, low-carbon materials, such as bamboo, in the construction industry. It also illustrates the effectiveness of FEA simulation in analyzing elaborate structures.