Abstract
Cutting patterns for architectural membranes are generally characterised by rational approaches to surface discretisation and minimisation of geometric deviation between discrete elements that comprise the membrane. In this paper, we present an alternative approach for cutting pattern generation to those described in the literature. Our method employs computational techniques of clustering and graph-traversal to operate on arbitrary design meshes. These design meshes can contain complex curvature, including anticlastic curvatures. Curvature analysis of the design mesh provides the input to the cutting pattern generation method and the net topology generation method used to produce a constraint net for a given membrane. We test our computational design approach through an iterative cycle of digital and physical prototyping before realising an air-inflated cable restrained pneumatic structural hybrid, at full-scale. Using a Lidar captured point-cloud model, we evaluate our results by comparing the geometrical deviation of the realised structure to that of the target design geometry. We argue that this work presents new potentials for membrane expression and aesthetic by allowing free-patterning of the membrane, but identify current limits of the workflow that impede the use of the design method across the breadth of current architectural membrane applications. Nevertheless, we identify possible architectural scenarios in which the current method would be suitable.
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Acknowledgements
Inflated Restraint was exhibited together with two further projects—A Bridge Too Far and Lace Wall—as part of the research exhibition Complex Modelling held at Meldahls Smedie, The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (KADK), over the period September–December 2016.
This project was undertaken as part of the Sapere Aude Advanced Grant research project Complex Modelling, supported by The Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF).
The authors wish to acknowledge the collaboration of Maria Teudt.
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Ayres, P., Vestartas, P., Ramsgaard Thomsen, M. (2018). Enlisting Clustering and Graph-Traversal Methods for Cutting Pattern and Net Topology Design in Pneumatic Hybrids. In: De Rycke, K., et al. Humanizing Digital Reality. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6611-5_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6611-5_25
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