Interactive Modelling – Elastic Canopies

CONCEPT
The concept behind the script is an interactive system
that generates a solution that could be called a
flexible canopy.
The initial geometry resembles a deformed, vertical
pipeline that is driven by a series of parameters
(defined in the following sections). This shape is
subjected to various forces and as a result of mesh
relaxation, evolves. Each of the evolutions is a unique
and visualised via planarization.

BASE GEOMETRY
The base geometry is a vertical pipeline, that is parametrised by number
of vertical sub divisions, number of polygon segments, height, mathematical
equation describing the sloping.

2 MAIN GOALS AND 3 SECONDARY
The 2 main goals that have the major impact on the
resulting geometry are “plastic anchors” (introduces
movable anchors, that are displaced when force exceeds
their strength) and “pressure”(either negative
or positive, shrinkage or expansion). The other goals
used include; “fixed anchors” (fixed placement of anchor),
“load”(in this situation, resembling gravitational
force), “mesh length/line” (comparable to fabric definition).
Other goal components include “show” (preview
component), “planarity display” (subdivision to
colour planar surfaces) and “trace” (record of point
displacement history).

HISTORIC CATALOGUE
Evolutions of the results obtained from the script
are always subjected to all of the goals. The manipulation
includes a game of modification of these parameters
however the only aspect that is enabled or
disabled is the type of final preview.
Majority of the results if previewed with mesh planarization
that signs a colour based on planarity level
provided by the plugin.
The second preview is a form of a different perception,
showing same behaviours as above examples,
but instead of the mesh, we see the trip that was
carried out by each of the points.

PLANARIZATION RESULTS

PATH TRACE

VIDEO

GRASSHOPPER SCRIPT

Marcel Dawid