Reciprocal force diagram

Comment

Comment by David Stasiuk on April 24, 2014 at 1:34pm

so cool!

Comment by Diederik Veenendaal on April 24, 2014 at 1:26pm

Read more about Thrust Network Analysis in our new book: Shell Structures for Architecture. Daniel was one of the proofreaders. Thanks again, Daniel, and cool job on the GH definition!

Ask me about a 20% discount! http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415840606/

Comment by Daniel Piker on April 24, 2014 at 8:46am

definition and a bit more explanation here:

http://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/kangaroo/forum/topics/reciprocal...

Comment by Daniel Piker on April 24, 2014 at 8:16am

The process is perhaps shown more clearly by an animation:

The forces in each edge are projected to the plane, then rotated 90° about the vertical.

Then the ends of the edges corresponding to the original triangles are pulled together, while keeping their length and orientation absolutely fixed (using the TranslationLock component).

Because the form-found structure was in static equilibrium, these forces form closed polygons in this reciprocal representation.