Transforming architectural and engineering design with pioneering structural optimisation techniques

RMIT’s Distinguished Professor Mike Xie pioneered structural optimisation methods that are being used by engineers, architects and researchers across the globe to create lightweight and high-performance structures and materials.

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Mike Xie structural optimisation architectural design engineering design computational algorithms ESO and BESO methods for optimisation

Transforming architectural and engineering design

The evolutionary structural optimisation (ESO) and bi-directional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) methods are inspired by the process of “survival of the fittest” in naturally occurring structures such as bones, shells and trees. First developed by Xie and co-workers more than 30 years ago, he and his team have continuously improved and extended the algorithms for the past 20 years at RMIT University.

The ESO algorithm gradually removes inefficient materials from a system, and the BESO technique allows underutilised material to be removed and simultaneously redistributed to the most needed locations.

Educating the next generation with new software

Now as Director of RMIT’s Centre for Innovative Structures and Materials (CISM), Xie and his team are continuing to focus on theoretical development and practical application of structural optimisation techniques.

In 2018, they released the commercialised 3D BESO topology optimisation software Ameba that has become a popular digital design tool used by students, graduates and a new generation of researchers and designers across the globe.

Global impact across multiple sectors

The computer algorithms have helped to reduce the weight and enhance the performance of complex structures and materials across industries including engineering, architecture, biomedicine and material science.

Algorithms influencing international designs

Distinguished Professor Xie says that while his algorithms focus on reducing the amount of materials needed in a structure, they also produce elegant shapes that are aesthetically attractive to designers and end users.

“These methods result in less materials being needed which is obviously very beneficial for the environment and cost effective, and I’m also pleased that they create a better living environment for everyone,” he said.

An extended ESO method and the BESO method have been used by engineers and architects to design large-scale buildings and bridges including the Qatar National Convention Centre by Arata Isozaki and Mutsuro Sasaki. They have also been used to create novel microstructures of materials and composites.

Design proposal by Mike Xie’s team for a bridge in Chongqing, China, in collaboration with T.Y. Lin International Engineering Consulting.

Collaborators and funding

CISM researchers have been awarded many major grants by the Australian Research Council, including the prestigious Laureate Fellowship for Distinguished Professor Xie awarded in 2019, the Future Fellowship and several Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA).

Financial support to the research team has also been provided by several large companies including Arup, Boeing and Aurecon.

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