GS   Hrvatski  





FALCON (Form-finding Algorithm for Linear Constrained Optimisation of Networks) is a set of User Custom Components for Grasshopper for design and internal force evaluation of spatial truss structures in tension and compression. Components enable interactive constrained form-finding based on iterated force density method directly inside CAD tool Rhinoceros. As constraints, force, length, or unstrained length can be set for elements of a network. Also, an external load can be assigned to nodes of the network.


File  .zip


FALCON is an ongoing project developed by Ph. D. candidate Elizabeta Šamec and Prof. Dr. Krešimir Fresl at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia. By optimizing the accuracy for solving the system of linear equations at each iteration step, an extension of the aforementioned method is created that speeds up the computation to achieve successful implementation in this interactive structural design tool.

FALCON is developed due to the lack of interactive form-finding tools based on the force density method, especially ones enabling the assignment of additional constraints. The force density method is based on easy-to-understand fundamental principles, it is an extremely versatile method that, even though it is developed almost half a century ago, remains unique due to its remarkable ability to start from poorly defined geometry and still provide satisfactory result since only the topology matters in equilibrium shape. That is why we believe that this method is still worth revising in the new era of form-finding. Although various different tools for interactive form-finding are developed, mainly based on dynamic equilibrium methods, they provide different levels of insight and understanding of the underlying form-finding methodology (black box situation). That is why we wanted to enable the user to see and change the functions for form-finding, and to manually change the input parameters inside the form-finding component to better understand the methodology he uses.





















A detailed description of the installation process is given in the file Installation instructions.pdf.

First steps: Check out the handbook, videos and the FALCON_examples folder inside the FALCON.zip.

If you find a bug, please help us solve it by contacting us (e-mail: esamec@grad.hr).


Compas library is used to run CPython libraries SciPy and NumPy inside Grasshopper and manipulate with a network data structure. L-net and R-Net component is used from Heteroptera plug-in.


Literature:


If used in your work or research please acknowledge the authors lack of sleep :o) 
  
    @misc{falcon,
      title  = {{FALCON}: {F}orm-finding {A}lgorithm for {L}inear {C}onstrained {O}ptimisation of {N}etworks.},
      author = {Elizabeta \v{S}amec and Kre\v{s}imir Fresl},
      note   = {http://www.grad.hr/nastava/gs/falcon/falcon-eng.html},
      year   = {2021}
    }



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