Kangaroo - Bending a grid of lathes

Hello,

As part of an ongoing investigation into lightweight structures and the work of frei otto i would like to know if anyone can recommend an approach that may be suitable for modelling a gridshell construction, but in a way that represents the actual physical realisation of grid shells.

This means

1 - firstly constructing a flat grid of lathes

2- secondly applying or using a force bending or bending properties attached to the lathe meshes in combination with a directional point force in kangaroo in order to simulate the transfer from flat to finished position of the gridshell.

This construction technique is siginificant in terms of optimising the form, but also in the sense of simulating the method by which gridshells are constructed and realised on site.

I realise that this is not the most efficient way of constructing this particular type of structure in a digital format but essentially what i am trying to achieve is a representation of the 'natural form finding' process used by frei otto in many of his experiments (for example the hanging models for the multihalle mannheim) and the actual process by which gridshells are formed on site.

I attach an image of a gridshell that i modelled directly in GH without any Kangaroo forces determining the shape.

Thanks to everyone and anyone who can help or provide advice!

Chris I

Attachments:

01.png, 80 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Yoann Mescam (Systemiq) on October 6, 2011 at 7:46pm

I am not a specialist, but I like to play with Kangaroo, so this def will perhaps help you.

Attachments:

gridshell.gh, 9 KB

Permalink Reply by Chris Ingram on October 7, 2011 at 4:01am

Thanks systemig - i will let you know if i make any progress.

Permalink Reply by Chris Ingram on October 7, 2011 at 6:40am

This is great. thankyou - i see it is an extension of the definition for the point force opposed to the springs as contained in the example files except with fixed edges to the mesh (This is another how to question i have been meaning to ask!). I will have to pick apart the definition to see if i can understand the function of each of the components as there are some that i dont recognise.

I actually realised that it will be a very tricky definition to achieve - due to the fact that in the construction of a grid shell the only anchor points that can be considered as static will be in the middle of the mesh.

This is because as the grid of lathes is either lowered or raised the actual plan shape will reduce towards the central axis as the self weight of the structure bends the ends downwards thereby reducing the overall footprint of the structure.

I think this is going to prove more difficult than i first thought.

Many many thanks!

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