Component Design - First test phase

For the first Diana (structural performance) calulation, I took the GC model as one complete slab. (as the "big component" variant in sketch below) supported in the 4 corners (two with a role and two pinned)

comments on Diana results:
I will have to adjust the sizes in GC. because now the model was randomly created. (about 12 mm height!)I adjusted some values in Diana in order to get a bit more realistic results without starting all over again.
The results are based on the following values in Diana for now:

1. N and meters (this is a bit unlogical, but a quick temporary solution, it should be N and mm next time)
2. the height of the structure in Diana is 12 meter (too big, should be about 3 meter next time)
3. The materialization of the structure are all equal solid round glass beams with a diameter of 0,1meter. to start with a reference. I would like to test it for example glass tube system of steel to compare it later on. I also have to look into glass properties, the get to know what the max stress levels are for solid glass without failure.

Next week, when I'm in Eindhoven for the WAAS workshop, I will try to get more input and some progress of my project there. The topic is related, so may be it is an opportunity to work ahead. while being there.. But I dont really know what to expect yet.

Because I won't be able to work with Diana for the next 9 days due to licence problems, I would like to try setting up the GC loop sytem in the evening hours, after the workshop. But I have to discuss the feasibility with my tutors.

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I'm focussing now on a simpified planar facade component to start the testing in Diana tomorrow.
For the first structural analysis, I'm planning to use hollow glass beams and standard joints.


I still have to decide on a scenario to chose

Radiolaria applet

I've found a java applet allowing us to manipulate a regular hexagonal grid which seems to react according to some basic principles of radiolarian skeletons!

Click on the image to play >


source: www.n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com

New GC model

I've decided to model one module in GC.
I want to use my basic idea, but the lines of the grid should all be splines, in order to get a fluent tessellation. I will script a relatively simple hexagon script to add the tesselation to the grid. (see image).
Tomorrow I will talk to Fred Veer (ir. TU Delft) about the possibilities of glass beams as structural elements.

Midterm presentation

Hereby a visual summary of the midterm presentation.

critics:

• Plans are far too ambitious to be able to finish it untill a final presentation within 3 weeks.

• I have to simpify my model to a module of the compete structural skin, in order to compete at least one compete loop of scripting, modelling, calculating and adjusting of the structure.

• Do you want to generate a radiolarian structure or manipulate a given structure?

• Start as soon as possible with testing a simple model in Diana (structural performance) while working on scripting more and modelling more in GC.

INTRO:


RESEARCH PROPOSAL:


TRANSLATION:


CLICK FOR G.C. ANIMATION >>


PLAN:

Possible future applications: Structural Skin

I expect that double curved surfaces are feasible to be built based on radiolarian surface structures.

Two proposals.....What's best?!

In both cases the focus of the proposals do not really lie in the spatial quality of the pavilion, but, for this course, more in the structural beauty of a built object. The result will not be a fully designed pavilion. But rather a structural object testing if my hypothesis is correct. Stating that:
1) the in approximitely 600 milion years evoluated natural forms/structures are enough to achieve pure beauty in an architectural context.
2) these by nature evoluated structures are able, after adjusting them with respect to other force impacts, to function with the same level of efficiency in architectural circumstances.

Proposal One - focus: STRUCTURAL SKIN


- magnify the rad. web structure so that it would be big enough to become a pavilion.
- add additional support elements in order to keep the pavilion standing. (inspire the shape on other rad. skeleton types)
- Fix these additional support element(s) as a boundary condition.
- try optimizing the rad. tesselation in order to achieve a structural skin (gc diana loop)
- the topology of the structural skin would be the input from the radiolarian side of research, while the additional support would be one of the architectural inputs.

Proposal Two - focus: MAIN LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE



- build the main structure based on rad. in gc
- test loop with diana to adjust the structure for building environment
- then add the tesselation. and optimize on the field of: using the least amount of material.

Intention Midterm presentation

I'm planning to give my midterm presentation for next monday the following contents:

1. Hypothesis - research questions - testing
2. Input & output of research
3. Architectural input
4. Radiolarian input
5. G.C. sketch
6. Plan for the next weeks

After I spoke to Michela, Andrew/Elisa and Andre last thursday, I concluded after taking a little time to process their input, to keep the architectural image more in mind while proceding my research. I don't want to focus only on the tesselation of surfaces anymore, without having an architectural image of the output. But more on a complete spatial structure of a pavilion. I will keep in mind the possibilities of tesselating the surfaces and the knowledge I gathered on this specific subject. And apply them later on.