A Research On Voxel-based Digital Discrete Structure Design And Its Fabrication

The application of the structural logic of combining elements into a whole in architecture has a long history,such as stone wall,Dougong,etc.With the development of digital design technology,discrete structure has more possibilities in form design and rationality,and it can be realized through the manufacturing of diversified discrete units by digital production equipment.At present,many researches on polymer structure focus on specific form or manufacturing process,and few discuss the simple design method of this kind of discrete structure in the digital platform.In this study,a voxel based polymer structure design and manufacturing method is presented.The concept of voxel originally represents a display method of creating 3D model in computer.In this study,voxel is used as the framework of shape design of discrete element and the process from discrete element to discrete structure is completed by stacking and aggregating voxels.There are four main problems to be solved in the design and manufacture of voxel based discrete structure: the basic logic of voxel and discrete element design,the generation method of discrete structure,the design method of discrete element form and the manufacture method of discrete structure.First of all,we study the relationship between the continuity of graphics and the boundary of pixels from the two-dimensional pixelated graphics of the Truchet tiles,apply it to the three-dimensional voxels,and develop the geometric shape of cube voxels to obtain a more diverse form of discrete elements.Secondly,on the platform of grasshopper,the aggregation generation design from discrete element to discrete structure is practiced,including three design methods,which are jointly controlled by(Bottom-up),(Top-down),(Top-down)and(Bottom-up).Then,the form design of discrete element is discussed more specifically.According to the geometric characteristics,discrete element design is divided into lines,surfaces and bodies to complete the design of various discrete structures with different shapes,and each design method issummarized.At last,three kinds of discrete structure designs are selected to manufacture in three different sizes: small,medium and large.The basic digital manufacturing methods of small-scale discrete structure model,lofting method of complex discrete structure manipulator and discrete structure manufacturing with mechanical optimization characteristics are summarized.Summarize the basic principles and operational procedures that discrete structures should follow as part of architectural design.The discrete structure design and manufacturing method based on voxel obtained in this study clarifies the simple design and generation logic under the complex structure surface of polymer,and with the help of digital design and manufacturing,it will bring greater expansion to the design and practical application of discrete structure in architecture.