CSC’s Fastrak simplifies complex design for Azimuth Structural Engineering
Iconic glass and stone residential structure Carreg a Gwydr takes a complex structural form, incorporating a large glazed façade, framed by exposed CHS columns, which wraps around the flanks of the structure and supports a cantilevered first floor balcony.
The design by Hall and Bednarczyk incorporates curved reinforced blockwork walls to the rear elevations which work in combination with a rigid steel sway frame to allow a bracing free arrangement.
Columns are expressed in the open plan living space through a fully glazed elevation, punctuated with full width balconies and slender cantilevered roof overhangs. Azimuth Structural Engineering used CSC’s Fastrak to undertake the 3D structural analysis and design of Carreg a Gwydr.
The brief precluded any vertical cross bracing for stability and, due to the extent of glazing, accurate assessment of deflection from all wind directions was critical. Fastrak was pivotal to predicting and controlling these deflections, determining connection forces in the sway frames, and providing verification that the proposed structural form was viable.
It enabled Azimuth to create one single model of the structure, incorporating faceted shear walls to represent the block-work walls and a steel sway frame with cantilevers at both the first floor and eaves level.
Its inbuilt wind calculator was used to determine wind deflections accurately and the 3D model was able to provide an optimised and automated design of the steelwork members.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to AEC Magazine for FREE
