# Form-finding method for prestress-dominant surface structures using graphic statics

Enrique L., Block P. and Schwartz J.
Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2015
Amsterdam
2015

Graphic statics allows the visualization of possible states of internal forces in equilibrium in load-bearing elements as stress resultants. For this, two reciprocal diagrams, the form and force diagrams, are used, illustrating the relationship between shape and stress. The design potential that graphic statics offers, has been mainly explored in two-dimensional problems. Recently, graphic statics has also been used for the form finding of funicular shells and fully spatial systems in compression or tension. However, no method based on graphic statics has been developed for the form finding of prestressed cable networks. This research introduces a method for the form finding of prestressed cable networks based on graphic statics. This is based on the geometric dependencies between form and force diagrams of prestressed cable systems. The paper provides an intuitive explanation of the concept of force density and shows that the equilibrium of prestressed surface structures is purely a geometric condition.

BibTeX

@inproceedings{Enrique2015,
author    = "Enrique, L. and Block, P. and Schwartz, J. ",
title     = "Form-finding method for prestress-dominant surface structures using graphic statics",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2015",
year      = "2015",
editor    = "",
volume    = "",
number    = "",
pages     = "",
publisher = "",
address   = "Amsterdam",
month     = "August",
doi       = "",
note      = "",
}

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