Publications

Data management and modelling of complex interfaces in imperfect discrete-element assemblies

http://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/publications/620

[Frick2016]

Data management and modelling of complex interfaces in imperfect discrete-element assemblies.

Ursula Frick, Tom Van Mele and Philippe Block

Recent advances in digital fabrication and on-site construction have created new possibilities for the (pre-) fabrication of highly customised building components and the realisation of complex, assembled architectural geometries. However, currently there are no structural design methods or tools available that address the specific challenges related to the design and analysis of discrete assemblies. This paper describes an approach for the identification of contact interfaces between the elements of discrete assemblies and presents a data structure for these interactions. Furthermore, the paper presents a method for handling misaligned (e.g. intersecting), and non-coplanar interfaces. The proposed approaches are suitable as computational back-end for equilibrium analysis of discrete-element assemblies, such as the Rigid Block Limit Equilibrium method.

@inproceedings{Frick2016,
    author    = "Frick, U. and Van Mele, T. and Block, P.",
    title     = "Data management and modelling of complex interfaces in imperfect discrete-element assemblies",
    booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2016",
    year      = "2016",
    editor    = "",
    volume    = "",
    number    = "",
    pages     = "",
    publisher = "",
    address   = "Tokyo, Japan",
    month     = "September",
    doi       = "",
    note      = "",
}