Quantifying and integrating constructability into multi-objective steel floor framing design

Abstract

This thesis explores the benefits and tradeoffs of two significant constructability considerations in structural steel floor framing design. A new constructability strategy combining both standardization and steel availability is proposed, providing a clear, quantitative methodology for constructability integration. This strategy can be easily incorporated into various projects and software implementations to be used in structural engineering design practices. Analysis of this methodology also indicates that structural weight tradeoffs remain fairly insignificant, allowing standardization down to approximately 20-30% of the initial number of unique sections with less than a 20% increase in structural weight. Thus, this thesis establishes a new multi-objective approach to steel floor framing design and promotes a better understanding of buildability integration for more efficient and economical structural design solutions. Keywords: constructability, buildability, standardization, availability, structural steel floor framing, culling, multi-objective design