Gridshells without geometric torsion (torsion-free nodes)

[DanielPiker]

Here’s the thread I actually meant to link.

About PQ Mesh, conjugate curvature network

…and here’s an example definition showing a way to generate such a conical planar quad mesh, its constant distance face-face offset, and the corresponding torsion free beam layout, on a given target surface: conical_demo.gh (52.0 KB) [image] In this example I’ve started with a simple regular flat square grid, and pulled it onto the surface. As you slowly slide up the strength of the planarization/conicalization constraints, it will naturally slide and rotate on the surface to find an orienta…

It’s true simply planarising the quad faces in general does not guarantee planar beams when you offset it.
However, this method does give you planar beams and torsion free nodes, as it makes the mesh conical (as described in http://www.geometrie.tugraz.at/wallner/focal.pdf).

@diff-arch - you don’t need to planarise the extrusions with this method, since once the mesh vertices meet the conical angle condition, the beams can be planar by construction.