Digital modelling, analysis and fabrication of deployable structures for kinetic architecture
Publication Date
October 15, 2022
Abstract
As a result of the human mobility needs and the progressive technological advances over time, varied deployable structures utilising scissors and sliding mechanisms have evolved for transformable and transportable functionalities. In recent decades, this topic has piqued the interest of professionals within several fields - the Arts, Industrial Design, Architecture and Engineering - leading to an extensive database of publications in journals, conference proceedings, books, and patents.
Gaps between theory and practice can sometimes restrict prospective applications due to structural complexities compromising the material capacities during installation, service, or dismantling. This thesis aims to develop alternative solutions for stabilising the angular distortions of quadrangular expandable grids, controlling the deflection limits, and enhancing the structural behaviour of large-span constructions requiring transitory processes, with a rapid installation or a frequent relocation.
The expertise given by other authors in the literature review is the framework to understand and recreate a variety of concepts. This work employs the latest digital modelling tools to evaluate complex projects from the early design phases, collecting real-time data from parametric environments, movement simulations, and simplified structural predictions. In addition, physical to-scale models are created by additive manufacturing and standard portable tools, granting rapid testing.
A holistic and reciprocal method is necessary to obtain an overall spatial evaluation, validity, and reliability. The geometry is categorised into eight cases to study the viability of automatically offering proper strength, safety, and rigidity through diagonal stress-free mechanisms, rectifying the primary instabilities during the size and shape transitions.
On the other side, although permanent and static structures follow the Eurocodes & related building standards, temporary and mobile variants may require identical severe conditions. A hypothetical transportable tent compares the stabilisation of diagonal scissors and triangulations by passive cables; later, tensioned locking devices target to control climate loads deflection limits at the deployed position.
As a result of this research, a complete design process contributed to developing successful solutions for mobile architectural applications, maintaining a degree of freedom. After discussing the efficiency of the setting-up procedures, the suggested active-cables outline demonstrated superior structural performance to every load scenario, can prevent excessive time usage during manual locking and facilitates the components adjusting task from the ground level. Related transformable umbrellas may adopt the proposed structural analysis methodology; however, researchers should correlate detailed engineering studies and full-scale testing to validate practical results.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
Department of Architecture and Built Environment (UK)
eprints ID
67797
UoN Repository URI
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Digital Modelling Analysis and Fabrication of Deployable Structures for Kinetic Architecture2022.pdf
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