Abstract
Architectural creativity is only restricted by the boundaries of the human imagination. New methods of design, analysis, and construction as well as modem building materials have changed the appearance of the built environment to an exhibition of sculptures with spaces through which the life flows. These amazing functional sculptures are created by innovations in materials, design and construction methods in modem building industries. A major field in building industry, which has always been evolving in the course of time and has direct effect on the appearance of the built environment, is the knowledge of structural systems. Space structures are an important family of structural systems that have been extensively developed technically in recent decades. To deal with the complex and yet exciting geometry of space structures, it would be helpful to use a mathematical approach with graphical capabilities. “Formex algebra” is a mathematical framework, which is suitable for creating forms based on their geometrical characteristics. The related software “Formian” is used to design and process 2D and 3D forms. The main objectives of this research are to generalise the formex functions applications in practical architectural design of space structures, with focus on “compound and freeform space structures”. The aiming direction of this research is inspired by successful works of well-known architects such as the Eden Project in Cornwall, the roof of the Great Court at the British Museum and the Sage Music Centre in Gateshead. The works of modem architecture led the first ideas for this research to find convenient ways to create and evolve compound and freeform configurations in architecture. This research involves exploring various families of space structures and finding convenient methods to formulate the required space structure configurations in formex algebra. The structural forms considered mainly include “compound forms” and “freeforms”. Graphical computer capabilities have provided powerful tools for generating structural forms in recent years. However, as formex algebra is a mathematical approach combined with graphical features in Formian, it provides a more convenient way to generate, modify, and combine structural forms together. The results of this research provide new approaches towards creating compound and freeform configurations. In this research, attention is focused on investigating the capabilities of regular geometrical forms to be used as components for compound structural forms. The approach involves the use of formex concepts to formulate the configurations parametrically, so that the final form can be modified by changing the parameters of the formulation. Another major part of the Thesis is about “freeform design”, using formex algebra. A number of formex approaches can be used to design freeform configurations. However, in this Thesis, focus is placed on the “novation function” and its different features are used to develop some methods for freeform design. Also, based on the problems experienced during the configuration processing of compound and freeforms, some new functions are worked out to be added to formex algebra and Formian. In addition, some functional-graphical concepts are proposed to improve Formian functionality and user-friendliness.