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F. Ahmeti:
"Efficiency of Lightweight Structural Forms: The Case of Treelike Structures - A comparative Structural Analysis";
Supervisor: M. Rudy; Continuing Education Center, 2007; final examination: 2007-04-24.

This work addresses the structural efficiency of lightweight tree-like structures for three case studies: Stuttgart Airport, Beaverton Library, and Thermal Bad Oeyenhausen. The case studies are simulated using Build simulation software, to determine the stresses induced in each structure. The material efficiency and shapes areexplored in terms of load bearing structures. Hybrids of the above structures are formed to compare the pattern morphology used by various types of tree-like structure and assess the structural behavior. In addition, (steel, wood and concrete) materials are compared to determine which would have better structural performance. In order to show the resemblance between the growing trees and the tree-like structures, an example of both cases is simulated and stresses evaluated. Results show that, in general, the minimum stress and deformations are obtained for steel. Structures made out of this material also exhibit higher load bearing capability, optimum stability factors and the best geometric efficiency, inspite of higher specific weight (10 times wood, and 3 times concrete).

http://publik.tuwien.ac.at/files/pub-ar_7968.pdf