Computational Structural Design II

Abstract

This course teaches the design of shell structures using computational tools with a focus on graphic statics, computational form finding and computational geometry.

Objective

After successfully completing the course, the students will be able to: 1. design, form find and analyze compression-only shell structures using Thrust Network Analysis and RhinoVAULT 3 (RV3). 2. develop their computational design and algorithmic thinking. 3. code basic Python scripts using GoogleColab Notebooks and GhPython. 4. use the COMPAS framework in Rhinoceros for processing computational geometry and materializing mesh data structures.

Content

The students will first learn about Thrust Network Analysis (TNA), a computational form-finding method for compression-only shell structures based on graphic statics. Using compas-RV3 (RhinoVAULT3), an interactive implementation of TNA for Rhinoceros software, the students will learn how to design and analyze funicular shell structures. After an introduction to the basics of Python programming, the students will learn how to use the COMPAS framework to delve into the mesh data structures that underlie computational shell structures. Finally, the students will develop different materialization strategies and test their designs under asymmetric point loads. This will enable them to evaluate the correctness of the forms initiating a cyclical design process between form finding and analysis.

Resources