Computational design of fabricable geometric patterns

Scandurra E., Laccone F., Malomo L., Callieri M., Cignoni P., Giorgi D.

Computing methodologies  Computer Graphics 

This paper addresses the design of surfaces as assemblies of geometric patterns with predictable performance in response to mechanical stimuli. We design a family of tileable and fabricable patterns represented as triangle meshes, which can be assembled for creating surface tessellations. First, a regular recursive subdivision of the planar space generates different geometric configurations for candidate patterns, having interesting and varied aesthetic properties. Then, a refinement step addresses manufacturability by solving for non-manifold configurations and sharp angles which would produce disconnected or fragile patterns. We simulate our patterns to evaluate their mechanical response when loaded in different scenarios targeting out-of-plane bending. Through a simple browsing interface, we show that our patterns span a variety of different bending behaviors. The result is a library of patterns with varied aesthetics and predefined mechanical behavior, to use for the direct design of mechanical metamaterials. To assess the feasibility of our approach, we show a pair of fabricated 3D objects with different curvatures.

Source: STAG 2023 - Smart Tools and Applications in Graphics 2023 - Eurographics Italian Chapter Conference, pp. 81–91, Matera, Italy, 16-17/11/2023

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