Utformning av Utskovsluckor : Parametrisk Optimering och Jämförelse mellan luckor i Rostfritt Stål och Konstruktionsstål

The safety and sustainability of hydropower dams in Sweden is a growing concern, prompting modernization projects to enhance structural reliability and discharge capacity. This thesis focuses on optimizing the design of vertical lift spillway gates using a Python-based parametric tool developed to support material selection and structural dimensioning. The tool integrates an analytical model based on Eurocode standards with a Genetic Algorithm to evaluate design alternatives in terms of investment cost and environmental impact, specifically CO2 emissions during material production. The study compares structural steel and stainless steel options for key components of a simplified gate model, applying constraints on stress, deformation, buckling, and geometric feasibility. Results show that while structural steel (S355J2+N) minimizes cost, stainless steel (Forta LDX 2101) significantly reduces environmental impact. However, the choice of material is highly sensitive to modeling assumptions, especially with respect to stiffness and strength. The work demonstrates a clear trade-off between economic and environmental objectives and highlights the importance of stress and deformation in the skinplate as critical design factors. While the tool provides a robust framework for preliminary design evaluation, further refinement is recommended through expanded lifecycle analysis, more detailed modeling, and validation via finite element methods.