Shaped Materials, Multilayered Systems and Structural Forms

Performance indices and design charts can
be used to quickly model and compare the structural
efficiency of different shaped materials, layered systems
and structural forms. This work presents a method for
modelling the mass-efficiency of structures at the
conceptual stage of design. The method is based on the
concept of shape transformers, which describe dimensionless
shape properties of a cross-section Shape transformers are
size-independent and practical for defining classes of
shapes in a way which is similar to the manner in which
materials are classified. Used to formulate performance
indices for lightweight shaped materials with arbitrarily
scaled cross-sections and for plastic analysis of beams,
shape transformers are conducive to visualize the effect of
cross-section geometry and layer arrangement via material
charts. These geometric operators help also to visualize the
interaction between the selection of alternative structural
forms and the choice of constituent member cross-section
shapes. The method described here provides insight for
engineers, students and educators involved in lightweight
structural design.