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research article

Design and Structural Optimization of Topological Interlocking Assemblies

Wang, Ziqi  
•
Song, Peng  
•
Isvoranu, Florin  
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November 1, 2019
Acm Transactions On Graphics

We study assemblies of convex rigid blocks regularly arranged to approximate a given freeform surface. Our designs rely solely on the geometric arrangement of blocks to form a stable assembly, neither requiring explicit connectors or complex joints, nor relying on friction between blocks. The convexity of the blocks simplifies fabrication, as they can be easily cut from different materials such as stone, wood, or foam. However, designing stable assemblies is challenging, since adjacent pairs of blocks are restricted in their relative motion only in the direction orthogonal to a single common planar interface surface. We show that despite this weak interaction, structurally stable, and in some cases, globally interlocking assemblies can be found for a variety of freeform designs. Our optimization algorithm is based on a theoretical link between static equilibrium conditions and a geometric, global interlocking property of the assembly-that an assembly is globally interlocking if and only if the equilibrium conditions are satisfied for arbitrary external forces and torques. Inspired by this connection, we define a measure of stability that spans from single-load equilibrium to global interlocking, motivated by tilt analysis experiments used in structural engineering. We use this measure to optimize the geometry of blocks to achieve a static equilibrium for a maximal cone of directions, as opposed to considering only self-load scenarios with a single gravity direction. In the limit, this optimization can achieve globally interlocking structures. We show how different geometric patterns give rise to a variety of design options and validate our results with physical prototypes.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1145/3355089.3356489
Web of Science ID

WOS:000498397300043

Author(s)
Wang, Ziqi  
Song, Peng  
Isvoranu, Florin  
Pauly, Mark  
Date Issued

2019-11-01

Published in
Acm Transactions On Graphics
Volume

38

Issue

6

Start page

193

Subjects

Computer Science, Software Engineering

•

Computer Science

•

3d assembly

•

topological interlocking

•

equilibrium

•

stability analysis

•

computational design

•

structural optimization

URL

Video

https://youtu.be/EUm6IIdk2XM
Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
GCM  
Available on Infoscience
December 11, 2019
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/163916
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