Advanced cutting pattern generation - Consideration of structural requirements in the optimization process

This paper presents extensions to optimized cutting pattern generation through inverse engineering regarding structural requirements. The optimized cutting pattern generation through inverse engineering is a general approach for the cutting pattern generation which is based on the description of the underlying mechanical problem. The three dimensional surface, which is defined through the form finding process, represents the final structure after manufacturing. For this surface the coordinates in three dimensional space Ω3D and the finally desired prestress state σ _prestress are known. The aim is to find a surface in a two dimensional space Ω _2D which minimizes the difference between the elastic stresses σ _el,2D→3D arising through the manufacturing process and the final prestress σ _prestress. Thus the cutting pattern generation leads to an optimization problem, were the positions of the nodes in the two dimensional space Ω _2D are the design variables. In this paper various improvements to the method will be shown. The influence of the seam lines to the stress distribution in the membrane is investigated. Additionally, the control of equal edge length for associated patterns is an example for important enhancement.