FORM FINDING OF COMPRESSIVELY

SELF SUPPORTING SURFACES

Isuru Nanayakkara
Supervised by: Prof. Priyan Dias
Outline
• Introduction to compressively self-supporting surfaces
• A brief history of arches/vaults/domes/free-forms
• Objectives
• Thrust Network Analysis
• Horizontal Loading on arches/vaults/domes/free-forms
• Future work
Objectives
1. To identify the possibilities of improving computational
efficiency of current methodologies, through improved
mathematical formulation.
2. To identify the possibility of extending the existing
equilibrium methodologies to consider horizontal and
vertical loads, simultaneously, in form finding of
compressively self-supporting surfaces.
3. To study the use of optimization schemes in form finding of
compressively self-supporting surfaces
Thrust Network Analysis
Thrust Network Analysis
[Block and Ochsendorf 2007]

• Form (primal) and force (dual) diagrams

• Branch Node Matrix (C)

1 ; 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑗 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 − 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑖

𝐶(𝑖, 𝑗) = ቐ−1 ; 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑗 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙 − 𝑛𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑖
0; 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
[ Image from Block PhD Thesis (2009) ]
[ Flowchart reproduced from Shell Structures for
Architecture by Adriaenssens et al (2014)]
Construction of Topology
• Existing Methods
1. Manual formulation
2. Automated procedure in CAD software

• Proposed Method
 An automated procedure separate from the CAD software
 Procedure based on Marcel Wild (2008)
 Faster as the graph has a known embedding
Solving for Horizontal Equilibrium
i. Branch vectors in primal and dual grids are parallel and have the same
direction
𝒖∗ = 𝒕𝑼
𝒗∗ = 𝒕𝑽
[𝑢∗ = 𝐶 ∗ 𝑥 ∗ , 𝑢∗ = 𝐶 ∗ 𝑥 ∗ projected length vectors]

i. The equilibrium of the compressive branch forces coming together at a

node of the force diagram is represented by a closed polygon in the force
diagram.
𝑪𝑻𝒊 𝒖∗ = 𝟎
𝑪𝑻𝒊 𝒗∗ = 𝟎
; where 𝐶 = 𝐶𝑖 𝐶𝑏
Solving for Horizontal Equilibrium (ctd.)
• The above two sets of equations can be combined to give the following,
where t is converted to q which is termed force density
𝑪𝑻𝒊 𝑼
𝑨𝒒 = 𝑻 𝒒=𝟎
𝑪𝒊 𝑽
• The set of force densities {q} contains both independent and dependent
terms

[Source: Mele and Block 2013]

Solving for Horizontal Equilibrium (ctd.)
𝑞𝑑
𝐴𝑑 𝐴𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑖𝑛𝑑 = 0
⇒ 𝐴𝑑 𝑞𝑑 + 𝐴𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑖𝑛𝑑 = 0
⟹ 𝑞𝑑 = −𝐴𝑑 + 𝐴𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑞𝑖𝑛𝑑

−1
• 𝐴𝑑 + (= 𝐴𝑑 𝑇 𝐴𝑑 𝐴𝑑 𝑇 ) indicate the Moore-Penrose pseudo-inverse of 𝐴𝑑
• To ensure compression only solution {q} ≥ 0
Solving for Vertical Equilibrium
• Constraints:
𝑧
𝐴𝑒𝑞 = 𝐶𝑖𝑇 𝐿−1 ∗
𝐻 𝐿𝐻 𝐶 𝑝𝑧 , 𝑏𝑒𝑞 = 0 , 𝑥=
𝑟

• Cost function:
𝑧
min 𝐶 𝑇 𝑥 = 0 ±1
𝑥 𝑟

• Bounds:
𝐿𝐵 𝑧 𝑈𝐵
𝒍𝑏 = 𝑧 , 𝑢𝑏 =
−∞ +∞
Solving for Vertical Equilibrium (ctd.)
The previous optimization can be solved directly using linear algebra
𝐴𝑒𝑞 𝑥 = 𝑏𝑒𝑞 = [0]

Let, 𝜓 = ker(𝐴𝑒𝑞 ) ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝜓𝛼
𝑥𝑘
Let, 𝑥 = 𝑥 ; where 𝑥𝑘 is known
𝑢

𝑥𝑘 = 𝜓𝑘 𝛼
𝛼𝑠𝑜𝑙 = 𝜓𝑘 + 𝑥𝑘

Then, 𝑥 = 𝜓𝛼𝑠𝑜𝑙
Current Implementation in GNU Octave
Horizontal Loading
Thrust Network Analysis with
Horizontal Loading
• Horizontal and vertical equilibrium considered separately
• Attempted by Marmo and Rosati (2017)
 Form exploration capability is lost

• Proposed Method
Feedback on horizontal load carrying capacity while force exploration under gravity loading
Horizontal Loading Patterns
• Earthquake loading
• Wind loading
• Accidental loading

Use 2D arches to explain the process and the generalized solution can
be applied to complex 3D forms
Tilt Analysis
Moore-Penrose Pseudo-Inverse
• Linear Algebraic Solution

• Least Square Solution

𝐴+ = 𝐴𝐴𝑇 −1 𝐴𝑇

• Weighted Least Square Solution

𝐴+ = 𝐴𝑊𝐴𝑇 −1 𝐴𝑇 W
𝑤𝑖𝑖 = cos 𝜏 − 𝜃𝑖 + Δ𝜃𝑖

correction of the error in least

squares minimization to the
direction of the thickness
Tilt Analysis of Arches
• Two solutions
• Uniform arch [compatible with Tim Michiels (2018)]
• Thicker support [superior to Tim Michiels (2018)]

• Feedback for form exploration

• Minimum arch thickness
• Minimum area of arch section
Graphic Statics Procedure
Graphic Statics Procedure
• Pole
Software Tool
Minimum thickness contours under varying rise to span ratios and horizontal acceleration
coefficients. Magnitude of contours correspond to an arch of unit span.
Tilt Analysis for 3D Forms
Tilt Analysis for 3D Forms

ae g
 Wind Loading - Pressure

Wind

Circumferential pressure distribution on arch-roof models at Isobaric lines over a rough hemispherical
various Reynolds numbers [Figure 4 from Johnson et. al (1985)] dome in a rough boundary layer [Fig 5
from Toy et. al (1983)]
Wind Loading - Force

Separation of pressure coefficients, and hence the forces, to

horizontal and vertical components
Arch Under Uniform Pressure
Arch Under Uniform Pressure
Arch Under Wind Pressure 0.150

0.100

0.050

Wind Force (N)

0.000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
-0.050

-0.100

-0.150

-0.200

-0.250
Arch section number
Arch Under Wind Pressure 0.150

0.100

0.050

Wind Force (N)

0.000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
-0.050

-0.100

-0.150

-0.200

-0.250
Arch section number
Arch Under Wind Pressure 0.150

0.100

0.050

Wind Force (N)

0.000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
-0.050

-0.100

-0.150

-0.200

-0.250
Arch section number
Insights to 3D Forms
• Pressure functions
• Limits of scaling
Future work
Work Remaining
• Generalized rules for primal grid generation

Potential Extensions
• Prototype testing with regards to earthquake loading
• Study of the history of arches in Sri Lanka
• Constructing a full scale model and instrument to study behavior
under wind action