ESR01- MULTIPLE STATES OF EQUILIBRIUM FOR BENDING-ACTIVE (TENSILE) STRUCTURES

AUTHOR: EVY L. M. SLABBINCK

Render of BAT_01 in collaboration with Seiichi Suzuki

Render of BAT_01 in collaboration with Seiichi Suzuki

Form finding process of BAT_01 in collaboration with Seiichi Suzuki

Form finding process of BAT_01 in collaboration with Seiichi Suzuki

Integration between design and analysis is becoming more significant, and requires an easy back and forward transfer between design and analysis geometry. Isogeometric analysis (IGA) is filling the gap between structural analysis (FEA) and design software (CAD).
Next to the fact that the isogeometric method uses the same basis for geometry and analysis, so one can avoid meshing, it has several advantages in contact problems, describing continuity, large deformation locking issues, thin shell simulation and mesh refinement. The use of IGA has been developed in several scientific fields but no advantage in architecture has yet been proven. The specific advantages of IGA have a direct overlap with the problems that occur while simulating bending-active tensile structures, i.e. contact problems that are created by the bundling and linking of bendingactive elements, locking issues that are a standard problem with large deformation that requires careful fine meshing and harmonious, planar quad elements. Additionally there is always a trade-off between accuracy and interactivity in the design of bending active structures that may be improved through the use of the combined geometry-analysis model of IGA.

Within the framework of parametric and interactive design a multi-resolution simulation software, based on the IGA methodology, is proposed that enables a high level of interactivity and accuracy to be simultaneously achieved. Alongside this software development the potential of bending-active tensile hybrid structures will be analysed and the design space for these hybrid systems expanded through this new analysis possibility.