This project was part of the elective class Visual Programming Advanced. The aim was to combine innovative grasshopper plug-ins into a new pipeline that includes not only design but also structural analysis, optimisation, and augmented reality fabrication. The given task was to design a simple bridge.
First, a simple pattern was generated in Grasshopper. The defining parameters (width, length, number of intersections) were implemented with moveable number sliders.
With the help of Kangaroo 2 the pattern could be transformed into catenary curves. Funicular form finding like this helps to minimize bending moments.
The structure was turned upside down and then fed into Karamba3D to analyse the axial stress and deformation for each beam.
The results from the Karamba analysis were then used to optimise the geometry for weight and material reduction in Octopus.
The multi-objective evolutionary optimisation made it possible to test hundreds of parameter constellations and decide for the best.
With Karamba the optimal dimensions could be calculated for each beam individually.
After the initial design was completed, the geometry could be turned into a physical model with the help of Fologram.
The plug-in translates geometry directly from Grasshopper to the augmented reality headset.
Additionally the beams and loads were exported directly from Grasshopper to IDEAstatica with KarambaIDEA. This way multiple joint options could be generated and tested.
The result is a bridge that is structurally optimised while still following the original vision and parameters that were determined in the first step of the process.
