A form-finding approach for the conceptual design of air-supported structures using 3D graphic statics

This article introduces a novel equilibrium-based form-finding approach for air-supported structures that relies on vector-based 3D graphic statics and the Combinatorial Equilibrium Modelling (CEM). The proposed approach is particularly suitable for the conceptual phase of the design process, as it allows generating a wide range of design options of discrete air-supported structures without membrane material in real-time while taking into account the overall mechanical behaviour and the architectural potentials of these structures. Benchmarking analysis is carried out using Finite Element Method (FEM) models without the membrane material to validate the feasibility of the discrete structures generated using the proposed form-finding approach. The comparison between the models created by means of the proposed approach and the FEM models shows general compatibility in terms of the geometry of the structures and distribution of the internal forces. Moreover, a complete design method for air-supported structures that combines the strengths of vector-based 3D graphic statics and CEM, for the conceptual phase, and FEM, for the advanced phase with models that include the membrane material, is discussed.