Optimal log floor patterns

Abstract

Multi-storey timber constructions predominantly employ engineered wood products as their primary materials. However, these materials undergo extensive processing, including cutting, grading, sorting, planing, and gluing, significantly increasing their cost and environmental impact. An alternative approach to promote the use of timber in construction is to use logs for columns, beams, and floors in buildings, taking advantage of the significant advancements in parametric design and robotics. Nevertheless, it presents specific challenges, such as developing appropriate designs for log connections and establishing protocols for their mechanical characterisation, which are beyond the scope of this research.The main focus of this article is to conduct a comparative examination of various layout patterns for log floors, aiming to minimise wood consumption and floor thickness. To obtain generalisable conclusions independent of parameters such as wood strength, loads or floor dimensions, an original optimisation method has been developed, inspired by morphological indicators. This article demonstrates that the conventional approach of using parallel joists along the shorter span may not always be advantageous. Instead, it highlights cost-effective solutions that enhance the value of smaller-diameter and shorter logs.