TY - JOUR

T1 - Designing Asymptotic Geodesic Hybrid Gridshells

AU - Schling, Eike

AU - Wang, Hui

AU - Hoyer, Sebastian

AU - Pottmann, Helmut

PY - 2022/11

Y1 - 2022/11

N2 - Fabrication and assembly of freeform shells can be simplified significantly when controlling the curvature of structural elements during the design phase. This approach has produced fundamental insights to bending-active construction, using the elastic property of elements to form efficient load-bearing structures. This paper is focused on gridshells that are built from straight and flat slats. The slats are combined in two orientations, tangential and normal to the design surface, to create robust and versatile triangulated grids. For this purpose, we generate hybrid webs of asymptotic and geodesic paths on freeform surfaces. The research combines geometric computing with architectural building practice. We present a computational workflow for the design and interactive modification of hybrid asymptotic geodesic webs. At its core are discrete models that are based on concepts of differential geometry and allow to compute constrained structures within an optimization framework. The resulting webs are tested for architectural applications. We derive a strategy for the elastic erection process, in which geodesic lamellas are used as a guide and bracing of the spatial structure. Two architectural scenarios, a timber roof and a steel facade are presented. Their feasibility for construction is verified through prototypical joints and physical models. The research introduces a new class of networks and related surfaces and offers insights into the practical challenges of freeform construction from elastic slats.

AB - Fabrication and assembly of freeform shells can be simplified significantly when controlling the curvature of structural elements during the design phase. This approach has produced fundamental insights to bending-active construction, using the elastic property of elements to form efficient load-bearing structures. This paper is focused on gridshells that are built from straight and flat slats. The slats are combined in two orientations, tangential and normal to the design surface, to create robust and versatile triangulated grids. For this purpose, we generate hybrid webs of asymptotic and geodesic paths on freeform surfaces. The research combines geometric computing with architectural building practice. We present a computational workflow for the design and interactive modification of hybrid asymptotic geodesic webs. At its core are discrete models that are based on concepts of differential geometry and allow to compute constrained structures within an optimization framework. The resulting webs are tested for architectural applications. We derive a strategy for the elastic erection process, in which geodesic lamellas are used as a guide and bracing of the spatial structure. Two architectural scenarios, a timber roof and a steel facade are presented. Their feasibility for construction is verified through prototypical joints and physical models. The research introduces a new class of networks and related surfaces and offers insights into the practical challenges of freeform construction from elastic slats.

KW - Asymptotic curves

KW - Construction-aware design

KW - Elastic gridshells

KW - Geodesic curves

KW - Mesh optimization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137161884&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.cad.2022.103378

DO - 10.1016/j.cad.2022.103378

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85137161884

VL - 152

JO - CAD Computer Aided Design

JF - CAD Computer Aided Design

SN - 0010-4485

M1 - 103378

ER -