iterative computational prototyping

Micro Pneumatic Macro Structure

Most known pneumatic structures are based on large shells or air chambers to form a final structure. There are few examples that use small air chambers to generate a larger envelope. This is the starting point of the project, small individual units would allow a certain number of air chambers to fail before the whole structure gives way, as is the case with balloon-like shells.
This project builds on the work of Thomas Herzog and proposes 2-dimensional, digitally fabricated, periodic patterns in reference to Haresh Lalvani to investigate pinwheel motion. Haresh Lalvani's flat polygonal patterns generate complex, 3-dimensional surfaces as they are pulled apart and deformed. The principle of moving from a 2-dimensional, informed surface to a 3-dimensional object is used to generate complex shapes in a simple way.
In this work, a 2-dimensional surface is informed with a pattern in such a way that it deforms during inflation and forms a desired 3-dimensional shape. Only in this state does the system have its structural integrity and stability. All forms must be developable, i.e. flat in their initial state. This is an important factor for the design and the manufacturing process.
In order to explore these concepts, analog and digital work was carried out in parallel in order to compare the respective results. A Rhinoceros Grasshopper and Kangaroo physics script was developed to simulate inflation, material properties and physical forces and to control mesh refinement iteratively.