RhinoMembrane r 2.

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

UPDATE REFERENCE STRATEGY

FORM-FINDING
With
Grasshopper
A generative modeling environment for Rhinoceros
Gerry DAnza Architect

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

The Concept of Form Finding in Architecture is a old topic:

Used in conjunction with several
construction technologies, formfinding is used in many fields for
optimal use of material and
energy minimization

Concrete bridge from 70

Eng. Musmeci , Italy

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Tensile Structures need to be

Form-Found.
Geometry and Pre-Stress together
make them become Architecture
and a widely used construction
technology.

Car Park Cover

Arch.Gerry DAnza , Italy

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Form-Finding methods:

Force Density Method

Dynamic Relaxation
Non-Linear stiffness
Update Reference Strategy
NFD Natural force density method
. others

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Theory
The theoretical background of Rhino Membrane is provided by the Updated Reference Strategy (URS)
for form finding of membrane structures developed by Prof. Kai-Uwe Bletzinger of the TU Mnchen
(Germany)
For a given topology of a membrane structure and given stress state in the structural elements
(pre-tension in the membrane and cables), the corresponding equilibrium shape has to be determined.
The URS represents a generalization of the well-known force density method.
Due to its continuum-mechanical basis, the method is applicable to both cable and membrane elements
without any restrictions:
E.g. an arbitrary stress state can be specified for the membrane, which can be isotropic in order to generate
real minimal surfaces or orthogonally anisotropic, which is very helpful for form finding of textile structures
with warp and weft direction.
It is even possible to consistently include pressure forces, which are acting always normal to the surface at
every state of the procedure, in the form finding process of pneumatic structures such as air-inflated
cushions.

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Objectives

RhinoMembrane has been developed with in mind a few objectives:

Modern state of the art tool for Tensile Structures Form-Finding

Fast migration of data to FEA packages with non linear features
for structural analysis and verification against design codes.
Easy connection to packages for membrane patterning & production
Easy connection to packages for structure design & production

Rhinoceros software from McNeel & associates has proven to be the

best choice as a host application for the above objectives

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Key Features

Surface Quad-Mesh & Tri-Mesh elements taken in account

Warp & Weft direction set by user via U-V mapping control
Cables controlled by pretension or Force Density value
Truss elements controlled by stiffness
Constant,Linear & quadratic stress law specified over the surface
Internal pressure for pneumatics
Fast direct sparse matrix solver
Visualization of final stress over the surface & reaction forces
at fixed nodes

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Why another Form-Finding tool

ARCHITECT

ENGINEER

CONCEPT
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENT
IMPACT

STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS

Geometry Pre-Stress

PATTERNING

SHADING &
ENERGY

DETAILS
Geometry - Technical feedback

ACOUSTICS &
SOUND

ERECTION &
BUILDING

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0 GH Solver Component

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0 extPoint Component

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0 extCurve Component

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

RhinoMembrane r 2.0 extMesh Component

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Hypar

Example

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Hypar

Example

RhinoMembrane r 2.0

VI International Conference on Textile Composites and

Infl atable Structures

Structural Membranes 2013

9-11 october Munich , Germany

Video Examples