The Application Of Graphic Statics Combined With Parametrics In Designing Free Form

The form of architecture is the ultimate goal of architects. Forms generated from structure are what architects especially want but hard to get. More and more architects want to achieve the integration of both forms of architecture and structure, which calls for the bridge between architecture discipline and structure one. Graphic statics is a method to analysis and design structure using form diagram and force diagram to represent the relation between forms and forces in structure. Because it is easy to use and its graphic diagrams matches graphic thinking of architects, graphic statics is a very suitable design tool for architects. It has been developed over hundreds of years abroad. With the development of computer drawing and parametric tools, graphic statics will enjoy a new boom as a design tool.The purpose of this paper is to introduce how to apply graphic statics in designing. The application includes two aspects:determinate structure and indeterminate structure, the former of which is the key point of this paper. There is a detail introduction of how to use graphic statics to generate all kinds of efficient truss (constant force truss, lenticular truss, constant-force gable truss, efficient cantilever truss, efficient truss with constant force in the curving chord, etc.) Programming in RhinoScript, this paper achieved the goal to generate efficient structures in line with graphic statics from free forms. As for indeterminate structures, this paper introduced Thrust Network Analysis briefly and its application in masonry shell structures.