Statics Aware Voronoi Grid-Shells

This dissertation presents the Statics Aware Voronoi remeshing, a novel pattern for generating innovative free-form grid-shells that are both aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. Two main novelties are introduced in the grid-shell design context: a polygonal topology and an automatic method for taking into account the statics of the surface underlying the gridshell. These features, together with the innate adaptivity of the Voronoi pattern, make this new remeshing extremely suitable for free-form architecture. Numerical analyses are carried out to show that free-form Statics Aware Voronoi grid-shells achieve better structural performances with respect to their quadrilateral competitors. Additionally, numerical results are conrmed and supported through a theoretical framework, instituted upon the old-time concept of equivalent continuum. Eventually, a physically built mock-up practically demonstrates the feasibility of the new Statics Aware Voronoi Grid-Shells and caters for the calibration of numerical models.