Design of prestressed gridshells as smooth poly-hypar surface structures. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Ting; D'Acunto, Pierluigi; Castellón, Juan José; Tellini, Alessandro; Schwartz, Joseph; Zhang, Hong
• Is Part Of: Structures. Volume 30(2021)
• Page Start: 973
• Page End: 984
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Smooth poly-hypar surface -- Hyperbolic paraboloid -- Prestressed gridshell -- Surface structure -- Lightweight structural design -- Graphic statics -- Design for reuse; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; 624.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2021.01.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-0124

Abstract

Abstract: This article demonstrates the design potentials of a recently developed approach for generating smooth poly-hypar surfaces, freeform surfaces made of combinations of hyperbolic paraboloids (hypars). In a smooth poly-hypar surface, the double curvature of the individual hypar modules and the smooth connections between them ensure global bending-free structural behaviour. In this article, the structural analysis of a prestressed gridshell as a smooth poly-hypar surface is introduced. Graphic statics is used to evaluate and control the distribution of internal forces within the structure. Moreover, a case study, the Hypar Pavilion, is presented as a prestressed gridshell as a smooth poly-hypar surface structure. The Hypar Pavilion was prefabricated using lightweight materials and low-tech manufacturing techniques. The entire gridshell was manually built out of forty individual hypars, which were combined following a specific sequence to ensure the kinematic stability of the ongoing construction without scaffolding.