Optimization of the process for reuse of steel beams using parametric design

Sammanfattning: Planet Earth's climate naturally varies over time, however the rapid change that is now takingplace is due mainly to human influence. Buildings and real estate sector's emissions ofgreenhouse gases is responsible for approximately 20,6% of Sweden’s total emissions ofgreenhouse and 33% of energy used 2018. Therefore, energy efficiency, a reduction in energyand energy supply with a low effect on the environment are necessary to manage environmentalquality objectives. Steel production requires high temperatures, and thus high energy consumption, both for meltingand processing, which in turn produces carbon dioxide emission into the air. Steel recycling isa much-needed innovation to save energy and reduce the amount of emission of carbon dioxide.However, even greater energy savings, and a reduction in the effect on the environment, can beachieved by reusing steel components instead of recycling or producing new steel. Despite thelarge environmental incentive, only a very small proportion of Sweden's total structural steel isreused. To date the process for reusing steel components has been unclear and needs to be clarified. Amajor challenge in the process is to create a marketplace where suppliers and buyers can meet.The purpose of this report is to investigate the possibility of parametric design to develop a toolthat selects suitable reusable steel beams from hundreds of beams which fit into new contextsin accordance with certain desired conditions. This work results in a program or script, where the user specifies his/her values and requirementsthat will apply to the selected beam. Furthermore, the program shows the beams that meet therequirements of users and sorts them in an environmentally friendly order. This program isexpected to help designers select the right reusable beam in the right place in a new project. The script was created to handle I- and H-beams using the program Rhinoceros-Grasshopper asa platform for parametric design and calculation. The program includes calculations for crosssectionalclasses, uniaxial and multi-axial bending without regard to the phenomena of lateraltorsional buckling, and transverse force where shear buckling is considered. However, the scriptdoes not handle beams with cross-section class 4. In conclusion the result of this study, which is the script, shows that it is possible to develop aparametric tool that calculates, analyzes and selects the beams that best suit the user's needs andwhere the selected beams are displayed in an environmentally friendly order. Such a tool canalso facilitate the process of reusing steel beams. It saves time and money as compared toperforming the selection manually. In addition, it opens people’s eyes to new efficient methodsand ways of thinking in the field of reusing. It can also be considered as an incentive forincreased reuse of steel beams while reducing the negative effect on the environment and whilesaving energy and natural resources.