Tents, Cable Nets and Grid Shells

Form-finding with GSA

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Structural

Geotechnical

Document Management

Crowd simulation

CAD

Sustainability

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Oasys Customers

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Geometric Optimisation

WHY FORM FINDING?

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Sagrada Familia

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Colonia Gell

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FORM-FINDING RESULTS

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Tensile Structure Shapes

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Prestress
How you
achieve
prestress
influences
concept,
analysis
and detail

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Importance of correct pre-stress

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GsRelax Non-linear analysis

DYNAMIC RELAXATION

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What is GsRelax?
A non-linear structure analysis program embedded in GSA
as a Solver (previously called Fablon)
It uses a non-linear solution method called DYNAMIC
RELAXATION
It specialises in doing:
Geometrically non-linear analysis
Material non-linear analysis
Non-linear buckling analysis
Form-finding analysis

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Dynamic Relaxation
Unbalanced position: There is an out of
balance force (residual) which will
generate an acceleration F=ma

Equilibrium position:
No out of balance force
(residual ) - system
converged

oscillation

The model moves under the action of out of

balance forces until it is in equilibrium

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Dynamic relaxation is not a matrix method

1. F = m
GSA applies a mass
to each mode to
enable the motion
equations
2. Damping
Most unbalanced position:
GSA applies
zero speed,
acceleration in peak,
damping to the
system to prevent
continuous
oscillation

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Equilibrium position:
maximum speed,
zero acceleration,

Geometrical non-linearity

Original position

Balanced position

Original
position

Balanced position

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Advantages of using GSA

Automatic consideration of geometric non-linear
effects
No limit on type of structure analysed.
For example:

Rigid structures
Flexible structures
Fabric structures
Cable structures
Mechanisms

Non-linear behaviour
Material non-linearity
Geometric non-linearity
Buckling
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FORM FINDING

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Form Finding
Soap Film
Force Density
Normal Properties

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Boundary Conditions

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Form Finding

SOAP FILM

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Soap-film form finding

The fabric will take up a shape similar to a soap film
which fits with the boundary conditions.
Curvature is achieved by changing boundaries and
prestress

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Spacers
Stress = Constant
Youngs modulus E = 0

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Acceptable & Unacceptable Spacers

Spacer elements

One SPACER

3
=

2
5

Acceptable SPACER
Spacer elements
=

Unacceptable SPACER

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Form-finding with Pressures

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'Water Cube' bubbles

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'Water Cube' bubbles

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Conics

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MOMA Liquid Skies

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demonstration

SOAP FILM

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Soap Film summary

Include spacer elements to control nodes within
the surface
Define edge cable prestress in 1D soap film
properties

Define fabric prestress in 2D soap film

properties

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Form Finding

FORCE DENSITY

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Cable-nets

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Force Density
No spacers
During the analysis:
2D element stress is set to proportional to its area (= A*FD)
Bar element force is set to proportional to its length (= L*FD)
FD = 1
15

FD = 2

FD = 3

15

15

F =30

The Model
FD = 1
30

FD = 2

FD = 3

15

10

The Result
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F =30

Cable nets

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demonstration

FORCE DENSITY

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Force Density summary

No need for Spacer elements
Define edge cable prestress in Force Density 1D
properties

Define fabric prestress in Force Density 2D

properties

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Form Finding

NORMAL PROPERTY

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Normal property form finding

Does not use form finding properties
Uses element properties
Differences in element stiffnesses effect shape

Creates permanent large scale deflections

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Compression Structures

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Grid Shells

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Shells

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Roof lattices

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demonstration

NORMAL PROPERTY

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Normal Property summary

No spacers or Form-finding properties
Uses section properties and large loads to achieve
permanent deflections

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London 2012 Olympic Main Stadium

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Soap-film cable nets

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London 2012 Velodrome

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London 2012 Velodrome

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London 2012 Olympic Shooting Gallery

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Where next?
Arup and GSA Suite users
Activate Form Finding in Preferences

Other GSA users

Request GSA Suite trial

Non-GSA users
Download trial from www.oasys-software.com/GSA
Request GSA Suite trial

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