Analyzing and Modeling the Computational Vascular Structure in Plants’ Leaves as a Structural Building Envelope and a Comparative Comparison with Common Structures

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Urban planning, Art University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Problem statement: Natural structures have been developed over the centuries to obtain acceptable solutions to external factors. During this process, only the most efficient natural forms have survived for millions of years. One of these natural structures is the vascular structure in plants’ leaves, which is discussed in the present article. Undoubtedly, the plants’ structure follows principles similar to that of human-made engineering, but with more complex and precise technology. The extreme complexity behind the natural elements sometimes make hard to understand the behavior of them. But nowadays, by using computer analysis and modeling abilities, we can understand the natural complex structures and attempt to simplify and extract their algorithmic structure. In this research, we have carried out a computational analysis of vascular structure in plants’ leaves, in order to obtain a plugin to design structural building envelope s inspired by nature. Therefore, according to structural sustainability in the leaves, the present research seeks to answer these questions; can the structure, which a leaf conforms to, be used in a human-made structure on a large scale? Compared to common structures, would it provide more favorable conditions? On the other hand, does the structure, designed based on the vascular structure in plants’ leaves, have more loading capability than the common structures?
Research objective: The purpose of this research is to design a different structure, inspired by the vascular structure in plants’ leaves, which will help improve the structural function towards increasing structural loading capability, and also achievement of visual attraction in beam and column systems is another goal in this paper by avoiding orthogonal structures.
Research method: This research is descriptive-analytic, and the data are gathered and analyzed through documentology.
Conclusion: The designed plugins, using plants’ vascular structure, enable users to create a vast spectrum of cover construction in different sizes by altering the devised parameters. This ability to make changes allows the architect to create more complex forms, which would be impossible without using these plugins, due to complexity in shape or the design’s structure.

Keywords

References

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The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar
Volume 18, Issue 97
June 2021
Pages 63-78

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