The base module for the investigation of a component-based material system was the hyperbolic parabola. The aim was to use this geometry to create a double curved surface. The main source of reference for the techniques of replicating this geometry were taken from origami folding methods, where paper was corrugated using mountain-valley folds which then created a double-curve unit. Due to the behaviour of paper, the geometry was able to shift, compress and expand.

Shahad Abdulmonem
Arghavan Arjmand Nik
Stanley Carroll
Alessandro Guidetti

During the fabrication process of the single component from the polypropylene material, the first challenge faced was how to create the crease lines on the base square surface. The behaviour of each crease, and eventually each module, was highly dependent on firstly the thickness of the polypropylene and secondly the characteristics of these lines and how they have been produced.

Shahad Abdulmonem
Arghavan Arjmand Nik
Stanley Carroll
Alessandro Guidetti

Understanding the behaviour of the module in a planar grid in order to design the final global geometry was needed to explore which configuration is more structurally stable to continue with.

After many different arrangements with several modules, it was determined the basic stability of the module was unstable. As a result it was determined that to achieve a stable form was to arrange the modules in a more stable global arrangement. The modules were arranged within a dome configuration which allowed the modules to develop double curvature while achieving stability.

Shahad Abdulmonem
Arghavan Arjmand Nik
Stanley Carroll
Alessandro Guidetti

Each module in the final form is made up of two poly-surfaces, each containing two equilateral triangular surfaces attached along a crease. The angle of the crease varies from module to module.

Shahad Abdulmonem
Arghavan Arjmand Nik
Stanley Carroll
Alessandro Guidetti

The project explores how the aggregation of basic components is used to control local, regional and global geometric relations over a continuous doubly curved surface. The surface performs environmentally and forms an overall complex spatial configuration. The basic module applies different and variable forces on two parallel and connected surfaces. The difference in tension created on sections of the surfaces forces the components into a new resting geometry. When the modules are connected they act on their neighbours generating a cascade effect which shapes the whole surface's geometry on different hierarchy levels.

Surbhi Bansal
Mafe Chaparro
Daniel Zaldivar
William Haviland

The basic modules are connected by a series of elements designed to work as multi-purpose joints. They distribute the forces from the compressed spring wires and the tensed fabric. The interactions between these varying forces compute the shape of the final resting geometry. The final joint element requires no glue and is held together as a puzzle piece, taking advantage of the precision of laser cutting

Surbhi Bansal
Mafe Chaparro
Daniel Zaldivar
William Haviland

Structural form was achieved by stretching the fabric and adding wires in compression and tension. The module of our model uses wires, fabric and acrylic sheets (for joints). Computational modelling determined the precise lengths of the wires needed between the square grids to create the physical model.

Surbhi Bansal
Mafe Chaparro
Daniel Zaldivar
William Haviland

The aim was an investigation of how struts in compression could work in unison with tendons acting in tension, to elegantly and efficiently maintain the equilibrium of a structure that is light and flexible. The goal was to obtain a clear knowledge about the principles of tensegrity.

Silvia Daurelio
Faisal Al Barazi
Anja Hein
Giorgos Bitsianis

In order to gain a fundamental understanding of tensegrity principles, geometrical figures were manipulated through physical models. The interactions of the two opposing forces within a system is first illustrated here through a paper straw and elastic band study model.

This component was explored using the void triangles as a shared face, allowing several assemblies. Obtaining an aggregation logic for the global shape became tangential.

Silvia Daurelio
Faisal Al Barazi
Anja Hein
Giorgos Bitsianis

A methodology was adopted to establish a dimensional rule that would allow spatial control of the deformation of each module's morphology. There were different parameter modifications in order to understand different spatial behaviors. This experiment aimed to control the curvature.

Silvia Daurelio
Faisal Al Barazi
Anja Hein
Giorgos Bitsianis

A direct and controllable relationship between the length of the monofilament and the size of the elastic triangle was created. To further increase the curvature, the top triangles are larger than the bottom ones.

The global geometry is a series of dependencies of tensile and compressive elements to achieve the double curvature.

Silvia Daurelio
Faisal Al Barazi
Anja Hein
Giorgos Bitsianis

The design is based on three hierarchal modules: The local, regional, and global. The aim of the design was to create a system with each unit informing the other.

The local is developed upon a basic geometry: the triangle. Several local components join to create the regional component, which after several tests and explorations, multiplied into a global system.

Radhika Amin
Rebecca Bradley
Jose Garcia
Amro Kabbara

A comparative study of deflection between paper and polypropylene was carried out by studying the displacement in length under varying degrees of prestressing.

The comparative study analyzed the change in deflection by applying a prestressing load on 1,3 and 5 modules.

Radhika Amin
Rebecca Bradley
Jose Garcia
Amro Kabbara

The interaction of regional modules resulted in a flexible structure with a bouncing effect. Using pre-stressing cables on one of the sides induced curvature and stabilized the geometry at the same time.

Radhika Amin
Rebecca Bradley
Jose Garcia
Amro Kabbara

The global system is achieved through repetition of the regional component. The local geometry of the folded triangle is modulated in order to begin to create a hierarchical system.

Locally, each piece acts independently, however, the resultant deflection affects the global geometry. Thus the resultant global interaction is dependent on the interaction at the level of a single basic module.

Radhika Amin
Rebecca Bradley
Jose Garcia
Amro Kabbara

The geometrical concept developed for this exercise exploits the flexibility of sheet material and its ability to accommodate a double-curvature. This transformation from a flat plane into a three-dimensional surface.

Due to the local double-curvature of the individual components, this configuration demonstrated an elastic behaviour in tension, while under compression the whole array became fairly rigid, and when compression was applied to only one side of the array a global curvature was achieved.

Abhilasha Porwall
Amritha Krishnan
Lei Zheng
Rachelle Spiteri
Zeynep Aksoz

For each component, a distributed load was applied to each of its edges in order to simulate the structural behaviour of a component within the global array. A structural analysis in Grasshopper was set up with the following parameters: component dimensions (width, height, thickness), material properties, load distribution and boundary conditions.

Stress-lines for a single component under distributed edge loads Grasshopper code for structural analysis

Abhilasha Porwall
Amritha Krishnan
Lei Zheng
Rachelle Spiteri
Zeynep Aksoz

The aim was to develop a complex surface from the hierarchical arrangement of a simple geometrical system. The final product of this geometrical and material exploration is a self-supported doubly curved surface having a spatial presence and that interacts with its environmental context.

Abhilasha Porwall
Amritha Krishnan
Lei Zheng
Rachelle Spiteri
Zeynep Aksoz