Form Finding Analysis in Consideration of Cutting Patterns of Membrane Structures

Methods for shape determination analysis and cutting pattern analysis which have been made so far are summarized, and their features/problems are discussed and a new method is shown. This method is a numerical shape finding method satisfying cutting patterns conditions (geodesic line conditions). The co-ordinates of the nodal points of triangular finite elements are controlled during shape determination analysis to satisfy a geodesic line laid inside the strip. By rearranging triangular finite elements from the obtained shape on the plane surface, cutting patterns can be obtained automatically. Some examples for membrane structures are shown and discussed in the paper.