PARTICLE-SPRING SYSTEMS FOR STRUCTURAL FORM FINDING

摘要

Particle-spring systems are well-known in computer science for creating physical simulations. In this paper, we propose the use of particle-spring systems for finding structural forms composing only axial forces. The equilibrium position of each particle is found using a Runge-Kutta solver, which allows the user to interact with the simulation while it is running. Several examples illustrate the technique, beginning with two-dimensional funicular forms and extending to three-dimensional networks. The paper proposes a novel three-dimensional design and analysis tool, which can be used by engineers and architects to find structural forms in real time.