Where the usual ends, Advanced Simulation begins. When designing buildings and their surroundings, it often comes down to ‘engineering judgement’. A technical foundation based on standards, guidelines and years of experience. Now that the boundaries of technology are being pushed, we find ourselves researching, designing and testing in unexplored territory. Advanced Simulation is indispensable to make this area accessible.
For ABT, it is essential to be able to simulate reality when breaking new grounds. In Advanced Simulation we use physical models that we validate with physical experiments and/or scientific literature. By collecting as much information as possible and performing advanced calculations, we are able to simulate the most diverse situations in a virtual world. This contributes to solving huge technical challenges within complex construction projects, the environment or specific issues.
Optimising with Advanced Simulation
Advanced Simulation is more than engineering beyond the guidelines; it offers benefits in the form of insights, new knowledge, savings and design freedom. Technical design can be optimised for a variety of themes: Safety, Comfort, Sustainability and Cost savings. For construction projects, the focus can be on one or more themes. All themes and supporting disciplines are included in Advanced Simulation.
Knowledge areas Advanced Simulation
Solving technical challenges requires specialists from a wide range of disciplines. With Advanced Simulation they can look at the big picture in a mono- or multidisciplinary context. This often comes down to three-dimensional calculations with finite elements or similar techniques. For example, geotechnical and structural engineering work together to make underground construction possible, whereas building physics and structural engineering work together to provide more insight into phenomena as wind currents, vibrations and fire safety.
The following knowledge areas are included in Advanced Simulation:
- Urban and/or building physics, thermal and visual comfort, air quality
- Geotechnical engineering and soil–structure interaction
- Vibration consultancy
- Concrete specials, civil engineering and infrastructure
- Fire safety engineering
- Membrane and cable structures
- Blast safety engineering
These knowledge areas will be briefly explained.
Building physics & acoustics, thermal and visual comfort, air quality
Buildings have a great impact on their immediate surroundings. Not only aesthetically, but also physically. Invisible processes such as dust particles, odour, heat, radiation and air currents all interact with each other. Understanding the interaction of these processes is invaluable to a design team.