Thursday 25 March 2010

Force Density Relaxing Roofs

Arthur Mamou-Mani posted on the Grasshopper forum (http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/tensile-membrane?commentId=2985220:Comment:54158 ) about tensile membranes and Rhino plug-ins that can compute shapes and forms.

I thought the problem looked interesting, and thought I'd see what I could achieve with the new mesh minimal surface tools I've been improving in StructDrawRhino.

You need the latest version of BullAnt (http://www.geometrygym.com/downloads ) and a license file, but you can try this for yourself.
Note, if you altering the inputs such as the control curves, I'd recommend disabling the Grasshopper meshing component temporarily, and then reconnecting it when you want to recompute.

Rhino Model
Grasshopper Definition             

What you find in the basic definition, is that the isolated mesh restraint points produce a very pointed roof, in reality we wish to strength the links along the ridge line.

Here's a revised definition that produces a more desirable result
Strengthened Ridge Line Grasshopper Definition 

Note that the image shows the mesh baked, which helps identify the isocurves or underlying mesh.  Toggling the preview update input can give some insight into how the algorithm is working, at the expense of a slower result.

1 comment:

  1. Hey Jon,

    This looks pretty amazing. Great to see Grasshopper being pushed so hard by you guys. And it is interesting to think of the possibilities of integrating tectonics like this so early in the sketch phase.

    Daniel

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