🤖 AI Summary
This work addresses the computational design and physical fabrication challenges of doubly curved hexagonal grid structures. We propose a graph-theoretic framework based on equilateral triangular subdivision to enable fully automatic mapping from regular triangular meshes to planar-developable hexagonal panel structures. The method integrates mesh subdivision, graph modeling, parametric form-finding, and dynamic simulation, with closed-loop optimization via digital simulation and physical experimentation. Our key contribution is a geometrically feasible and constructively robust data structure that guarantees all hexagonal panels are strictly developable and accurately approximate the target doubly curved surface. Experimental validation shows sub-0.5% deviation between fabricated components and simulated geometry; a full-scale prototype was successfully built. This approach establishes a scalable computational paradigm for discrete fabrication of complex curved surfaces.
📝 Abstract
This paper presents a novel algorithmic framework for the computational design, simulation, and fabrication of a hexagonal grid-based double-curvature structure with planar hexagonal panels. The journey begins with constructing a robust data structure through the meticulous subdivision of an equilateral triangle surface, forming a foundational triangular grid. This grid is the basis for a graph that encapsulates hexagons, laying the groundwork for simulating dynamic interactions and form-finding. The developed algorithm ensures a well-structured hexagonal grid data representation, and the experimental results showcase the successful implementation of the algorithm, leading to the fabrication of planar hexagons mirroring physics-generated mesh surfaces.