21: Double-Curved Spin-Valence Geometric and Computational Basis - Baker et al

Authors
M. Ramirez, E. Baker, E. Harriss, G. Herning
Abstract

This paper describes the geometric and computational basis for creating doublecurved space frame configurations from the Spin-Valence deployable kirigami construction system. The goal was to produce space frames that match non-flat target surfaces to be cut from flat parts and deployed into form.

The Spin-Valence system can be geometrically described as two offset surfaces created from tiled units—the primary surface, which can be seen as the original flat sheet of material, and the secondary surface, which emerges from the primary through spin-folds and reconnections between neighbouring unit hubs. The surfaces are offset from each other and connected through triangulating legs inherent in the cut patterns, thus producing a rigid structural configuration.

The construction must take into account the curvature and non-trivial depth of the space frame, as well as the geometric deployment constraints of Spin-Valence units. The frame is created in two stages. From an arbitrary curved target surface, a planar and conical quad mesh is produced, giving the proposed configuration for the more constrained secondary surface. Each unique unit has a specific deployment space, which is applied to the secondary surface tiles in order to compute a primary surface configuration and inherent triangulating legs, completing the space frame geometry.