Integrative Structural Design for a Multi-Storey Timber Building System

Changes in the building industry are required regarding the current challenges. Design methods, building systems as well as fabrication processes need to be rethought to reach sustainable solutions. Integrative design methods allow for comprehensive solutions that consider several disciplines from the early design phase. Timber, as a renewable resource allows for sustainable building systems and digital fabrication. The aim of this thesis is the integration of structural requirements and simulation in the early design phase of multi-storey timber construction. The developments are divided into the design methods, the timber building system as well as their application and evaluation. The methods are differentiated between feedback-based and structurally informed design methods. The building system design is based on the iterative synthesis of developments for the cross-section, the connections and the arrangement of the system elements considering architectural, engineering and fabrication requirements. Two timber building systems, one solid and one hollow, are developed and compared. The methodology is applied and evaluated through the design of a building demonstrator. The first two chapters of the thesis explain the motivation and challenges and situate the research within the context of integrated structural design and multi-storey timber construction. The third chapter contains the publications about the methodology and systems and their application and evaluation. Chapter four and five summarize the research, draw conclusions from the developments and provide an outlook for future research within the context of integrative structural design in multi-storey timber construction.