A new conceptual design tool for cable-membrane structures

The paper describes how the medial-axis construction of a geometric domain can be used in the design of cable-membrane structures. The developed method can be used in a conceptual design tool suggesting different shapes to an architect. At the same time this method can also help in the discretisation of a cable-membrane structure by automatically generating finite element meshes of the structures. The paper includes examples to demonstrate the capabilities of the method.

Highlight
► A modified medial-axis construction method.
► Medial-axis as a conceptual design tool.
► Conceptual design of cable-membrane structures.