Interactive design exploration for constrained meshes

In architectural design, surface shapes are commonly subject to geometric constraints imposed by material, fabrication or assembly. Rationalization algorithms can convert a freeform design into a form feasible for production, but often require design modifications that might not comply with the design intent. In addition, they only offer limited support for exploring alternative feasible shapes, due to the high complexity of the optimization algorithm. We address these shortcomings and present a computational framework for interactive shape exploration of discrete geometric structures in the context of freeform architectural design. Our method is formulated as a mesh optimization subject to shape constraints. Our formulation can enforce soft constraints and hard constraints at the same time, and handles equality constraints and inequality constraints in a unified way. We propose a novel numerical solver that splits the optimization into a sequence of simple subproblems that can be solved efficiently and accurately. Based on this algorithm, we develop a system that allows the user to explore designs satisfying geometric constraints. Our system offers full control over the exploration process, by providing direct access to the specification of the design space. At the same time, the complexity of the underlying optimization is hidden from the user, who communicates with the system through intuitive interfaces

Special Curve Patterns for Freeform Architecture

In recent years, freeform shapes are gaining more and more popularity in architecture. Such shapes are often challenging to manufacture, and have motivated an active research field called architectural geometry. In this thesis, we investigate patterns of special curves on surfaces, which find applications in design and realization of freeform architectural shapes. We first consider families of geodesic curves or piecewise geodesic curves on a surface, which are important for panelization of the surface and for interior design. We propose a method to propagate a series of such curves across a surface, starting from a given source curve, so that the distance functions between neighboring curves are close to given target distance functions. We use Jacobi fields as first order approximation of the distance functions from a curve to its neighboring curves, and select a Jacobi field which is closest to the target distance function. A neighboring curve is then computed according to the selected Jacobi field by solving an optimization problem. Using different target distance functions, we can generate different patterns of geodesic/piecewise geodesic curves. Our method provides an intuitive and controllable way to design geodesic patterns on freeform surfaces. We then present a method to compute functional webs, which are three families of curves with regular connectivity, where the curves have given special properties. We consider planar, circular and geodesic properties of the curves, which facilitate the fabrication of curve elements. We discretize a web as a regular triangle mesh, where the curves are represented by edge polylines of the mesh. The shape of the web is determined by optimizing a target functional which penalizes the deviation of the curves from their target properties. Furthermore, for webs where all curves are planar, we also show they can be computed in an exact way using three families of planes. By enabling the design of webs composed of curve elements which are easily manufacturable, our method addresses the challenge in realization of webs which have emerged in recent architectural designs

The Freeform Fabrication of Structurally Optimized and Complexly Shaped Metal Tubular Components

The service conditions of many structural frames composed of tubular metal components would ideally warrant the use of high strength-to-weight ratio components with shapes and internal geometries that respond to context-specific structural requirements. Commercially available and emerging solid freeform fabrication technologies can be utilized to indirectly or directly manufacture metal tubular structural components with optimizing features that cannot otherwise be manufactured. The results of prototyping experiments demonstrating the viability and potential of this application of additive manufacturing will be presented. This presentation will discuss successful prototype 356 aluminum and 316 stainless steel internally reinforced freeform tubular components manufactured indirectly using expendable patterns made by selective laser sintering and 3D printing. The application of laser and metal powder based freeform fabrication technologies that provide superior material properties will also be discussed, especially in terms of requirements for multi-axis deposition and sophisticated path planning software, and the implications of voxel- or layer-based functionally gradient materials.Mechanical Engineerin

Surface discretisation with rectifying strips on Geodesics

The use of geodesic curves of surfaces has enormous potential in architecture due to their multiple properties and easy geometric control using digital graphic tools. Among their numerous properties, the geodesic curves of a surface are the paths along which straight strips can be placed tangentially to the surface. On this basis, a graphical method is proposed to discretize surfaces using straight strips, which optimizes material consumption since rectangular straight strips take advantage of 100% of the material in the cutting process. The contribution of the article consists of presenting the geometric constraints that characterize this type of panelling from the idea of “rectifying surface”, considering the material inextensible. Experimental prototypes that have been part of the research are also described and the final theoretical results are presented

Challenges and Status on Design and Computation for Emerging Additive Manufacturing Technologies

The revolution of additive manufacturing (AM) has led to many opportunities in fabricating complex and novel products. The increase of printable materials and the emergence of novel fabrication processes continuously expand the possibility of engineering systems in which product components are no longer limited to be single material, single scale, or single function. In fact, a paradigm shift is taking place in industry from geometry-centered usage to supporting functional demands. Consequently, engineers are expected to resolve a wide range of complex and difficult problems related to functional design. Although a higher degree of design freedom beyond geometry has been enabled by AM, there are only very few computational design approaches in this new AM-enabled domain to design objects with tailored properties and functions. The objectives of this review paper are to provide an overview of recent additive manufacturing developments and current computer-aided design methodologies that can be applied to multimaterial, multiscale, multiform, and multifunctional AM technologies. The difficulties encountered in the computational design approaches are summarized and the future development needs are emphasized. In the paper, some present applications and future trends related to additive manufacturing technologies are also discussed

Realtime Deformation of Constrained Meshes Using GPU

Constrained meshes play an important role in freeform architectural design, as they can represent panel layouts on freeform surfaces. It is challenging to perform realtime manipulation on such meshes, because all constraints need to be respected during the deformation while the shape quality needs to be maintained. This usually leads to nonlinear constrained optimization problems, which are challenging to solve in real time. In this paper, we present a GPU-based shape manipulation tool for constrained meshes, using the parallelizable algorithm proposed in [8]. We discuss the main challenges and solutions for the GPU implementation, and provide timing comparison against a CPU implementation of the algorithm. Our GPU implementation significantly outperforms the CPU version, allowing realtime handle-based deformation for large constrained meshes

Interactive design exploration for constrained meshes

In architectural design, surface shapes are commonly subject to geometric con- straints imposed by material, fabrication or assembly. Rationalization algo- rithms can convert a freeform design into a form feasible for production, but often require design modi�cations that might not comply with the design intent. In addition, they only o�er limited support for exploring alternative feasible shapes, due to the high complexity of the optimization algorithm. We address these shortcomings and present a computational framework for interactive shape exploration of discrete geometric structures in the context of freeform architectural design. Our method is formulated as a mesh optimiza- tion subject to shape constraints. Our formulation can enforce soft constraints and hard constraints at the same time, and handles equality constraints and inequality constraints in a uni�ed way. We propose a novel numerical solver that splits the optimization into a sequence of simple subproblems that can be solved e�ciently and accurately. Based on this algorithm, we develop a system that allows the user to explore designs satisfying geometric constraints. Our system o�ers full control over the exploration process, by providing direct access to the speci�cation of the design space. At the same time, the complexity of the underlying optimization is hidden from the user, who communicates with the system through intuitive interfaces

Recent Advances and Current Developments in Tissue Scaffolding

A bio-scaffold can be broadly termed as a structure used to substitute an organ either permanently or temporarily to restore functionality. The material that can be used varies with the application intended. Tissue engineering is one such application demanding certain requirements to be met before it is applied. One of the applications in tissue engineering is the tissue scaffold, which provides either a permanent or temporary support to the damaged tissues/organ until the functionalities are restored. A biomaterial can exhibit specific interactions with cells that will lead to stereotyped responses. The use of a particular material and morphology depends on various factors such as osteoinduction, osteoconduction, angiogenesis, growth rates of cells and degradation rate of the material in case of temporary scaffolds, etc. The current work reviews the state of art in tissue scaffolds and focuses on permanent scaffold materials and applications with a brief overview of temporary scaffold materials and their disadvantages