Optimizing Gridshell Dome Shapes Based on Seismic Response: The Impact of Dynamic Analysis and Supplementary Damping Devices

This study investigates the optimization of gridshell dome shapes using seismic design demand parameters as the primary objective function. The innovative methodology integrates shape optimization with seismic analysis, deviating from traditional approaches that separate geometric design and seismic performance enhancement. By integrating computational methods, utilizing parametric modeling through Grasshopper, and structural analysis with OpenSees, the framework employs a genetic algorithm for optimization. Nonlinear time-history analysis, incorporating material and geometric nonlinearities, reveals that the optimal shape of the dome is significantly influenced by its seismic response. The results show that the optimal dome shape can vary substantially based on seismic performance criteria, indicating a dynamic interplay between structural form and seismic forces. Moreover, the optimal shape can be further influenced by implementing a supplementary damping system. In this case, both the gridshell shape and seismic dampers arrangement require adjustments to achieve optimal seismic performance. These findings highlight the critical role of integrated seismic analysis in shaping optimization, emphasizing that the ideal dome geometry is not static but evolves in response to seismic demands and damping configurations.