Virtual Environments Module One -Ideation

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Three proposals inspired from natural processes.

Spider web inspiration

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Proposal : spider web

Formation

Most spiders weave webs to catch prey. The net we see are usually neat spiral ones.This is done by letting out a first fine adhesive thread to drift on the faintest breeze across a gap.When it sticks to a suitable surface at the far end, the spider will carefully walk along it andstrengthen it with a second thread. This process is repeated until the thread is strong enough tosupport the rest of the web. After strengthening the first thread, the spider will continue to make a Y-shaped netting. The firstthree radials of the web are now constructed. More radials are added, making sure that thedistance between each radial is small enough to cross. This means that the number of radials in aweb directly depends on the size of the spider plus the size of the web.After the radials are complete, the spider will fortify the centre of the web with about five circular threads. Then a spiral of non-sticky, widely spaced threads is made for the spider to easily move around its own web during construction, working from the inside out. Then, beginning from the outside in, the spider will methodically replace this spiral with another, more closely spaced one of adhesive threads. It will utilize the initial radiating lines as well as the non-sticky spirals as guide lines. The spaces between each spiral will be directly proportional to the distance from the tip of its back legs to its spinners. This is one way the spider will use its own body as a measuring/spacing device. While the sticky spirals are formed, the non-adhesive spirals are removed as there is no need for them anymore. Following are drawings to illustrate the weaving procedure of a spider.

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Proposal : spider web

Practical research

I walked around the campus and looked for real spider webs on the rocks. I found some interesting points.

1. In addition, there are relative large holes in the web, which inspired my curiosity. I wonder how these holes are formed and how I can take advantage of that pattern.

2. I searched for other interesting points of spider web until I found the water droplet hanging on the web after morning fogs. I chose this pattern as it is not only beautiful but also I want to find out what drives the moisture to the tiny nano scale spider web.

3. Most of webs are attached with pieces of falling leaf organs. Some webs have even transformed into cone shapes with leaf organs covered inside.

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Proposal 1: spider web hole

Introduction

The form of spider hole interested me as it spheres and spirals to one end and forms a structure which gives protection and shelter for the spider, as well as the relative-closed space it created. Some patterns of the holes are interesting just as in the figure shown in the left.

Generally speaking, a hole in a spider web connects to a hiding place for a spider, as shown in the picture, a hole in a brick or spaces between leaf organs. Most of the hole shape can be taken as a result of outward expanding spiral cone shape. However, several holes can be made in one single web like the picture on the left. In this case the pattern itself weighs more than how it was made, therefore I decided to work on analysing the pattern and how they can be applied into a lantern design.

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Proposal 1: spider web hole

Sketch Analysis

Idea I found through sketch analysis is the attachment and structure load split. Holes in a web enable spider web good connections with the outside without effecting its stability of connection to the walls. The multiple holes inspired me of its potential of placement on human body. For instance, I can design a lantern which can be worn by the fingers or even by the neck and elbows.

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Proposal 1: spider web hole

Model Exploration

As I do not want to imitate the spiral pattern as that of the original form of a spider web. Through this model making for this proposal, the only interesting point I found is to apply this placement potential for other proposals.

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Spider silk captures water from the air and gathers it into jewel-like droplets. In the morning after a fog, bright pearl-like water drops hang on thin spider silk. These large drops gathered on the "knots" in a spider's web. At the nano scale, spindles of spider silk are formed from "puffs" of extremely tiny fibres, or nano fibrils, connected by joints. But when the web is in a damp, foggy atmosphere, these nano fibrils shrink, causing the bumpy silk fibres to smooth out. This physically drives the water towards the relatively rough and bumpy knots in the spindle, where it gathers into large droplets.

Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Introduction

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Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Formation

Up close, spider silk fibres are composed of "puffs" and "joints" Optical microscopy image of water drops chain on a

spider's web in mist, and below, the spindle-knot/joint structure in the team's artificial spider silk.

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Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Sketch Analysis

I start to explore its formation by given scientific explanation that when moisture ( tiny water droplets) goes past the silk fibre, what will happen, part 1 and 2 tends to join together to be more smooth for the droplet to move forwards to part 2 and 3, which also tends to join together and at this time part 1 and 2 tends to separate from each other. This pattern enables the droplet move to the more rough part where the knot is. In this way, I then applies this water passing pattern to some real model exploration.

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Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Sketch Attempt

First, I tried to connect different sizes of round balls( representing water droplets,i.e. Knots) with curving lines showing the free inter transportation of water among them. However, when I tried to panel this pattern in rhino it inspired me to modify the idea from this small scale interconnection to a larger scale of inter connection which enables the panel potentials.

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Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Model Exploration

With the idea of panelling, I developed the model as shown above. Round balls are gathered one after another and the bottom curve is closed with round balls placed from small to large. Also , the very right picture above indicates the two balls tending to join together as if water is travelling pass them. In this case, panelling looks complicated but I want to look for some simple pattern as this very stage and leave room for further development. So again I modified the model to the next step.

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Proposal 2: water droplet on a spider web

Model Exploration

This final model expresses my idea straight and have a potential for panelling, the up and down of clay components demonstrate the water drop pattern and every two clay components tends to join together followed by one neutral block in the middle. Also I made the clay blocks larger from one end to another, derived from the water droplet enlargement as well.

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Introduction

These pictures show the formation process of a spider web cone. Web parts attached with leaf organs are denser and add weight to the anchor points of the web,some anchor points are therefore broken up. Then the broken parts tend to join together and hence centre the gravity which cause further broken of other anchor points to the wall and centred more gravity. Time after time, the cone part break from other web parts and turn out to be a hanging cone.

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Tension analysis

From this analysis we know that any force loaded on a joint in the web can be spared to its surrounding threads and hence reduce the risk of broken. In this way, every single point of the web is connected to the main load bearing structure which ensures the web durability. Related to the formation of web cone, this structure analysis finds out the load bearing analogy.

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Sketch Exploration & Tension analysis

Through a series of sketch exploration, I found the internal pattern of cone formation is interesting, which is, in some way self-catalysed. The denser part (attached with leaf organs)tends to add weight to side anchor points, which cause broken of those anchor points, following by the combination of pairs of side anchor points, so the middle part of the web cone formed, one step further, the weight of leaf organs are centred and cause the broken of other anchor points, this cycle continues and rounds after rounds the cone is formed.

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Model Exploration

Based on the former analysis and multiple practice in model making, I tried different patterns to apply the principle I found that each part of the structure are tending to attract and connect its two opposite ends and the ones which rotates faster nearer to the middle tends to trigger its nearby part to stick together, which will be followed by a next round trigger once operating, hence represent the pattern of self catalysed procedure of spider web cone formation.

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Model Exploration

After the attempt of representing the principle with clay sticks which seems not satisfying enough as it does not fit for next step exploration of the design, I came up with the idea to represent with hierarchic surfaces instead of 2D sticks to do the job. If the surface at the very bottom closes, it combines with its upper level surface and tends to force it close, followed by the closing of the very top surface.

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Proposal 3: spider web

1:5 model

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Placement

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Proposal 3: web cone with leaf organs

Panelling Idea Exploration

Figure 1: The perspective of the bridge design something like a spider web. Figure 2: The new Kings Cross station concourse in London was redesigned especially for the Olympics. It’s an impressive spider web-like design that encompasses the entire ceiling of Kings Cross Station. The lights even change colour.Figure 3: Southern cross station, Melbourne. The inspiration I got through observation of these designs is I can use the web structure for panelling. I think panelling of surface is not hard if I only want to connect different parts together. A further issue to consider is in what way am I going to let through light, which connects to the lantern design initial.

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Reflection

Module One is finished. I have learned a lot through the first three weeks. When first introduced what virtual environments is about, I was excited because I think this is something about truly designing. Lectures give the basic ideas of view points and general introduction of different view points of things. However, it confused me much as given the task and learning of rhino. I did not know how to observe a natural process and find out the pattern before it, then apply that in my design. I was focusing on its looking at start until I read about “self-organised patterns” and what Thompson pointed out “ in biology, pattern formation is not a static thing, but arises from growth: Everything is what it is because it got that way” in the article by Ball Phillip. This idea inspired me to look things in another way is to focus on how they are formed rather than what it looks like. Because outward appearance can be very different but the pattern behind it are the same in many occasions. In the article” Analytical Drawing” by Poling Clark, the three stages of analytical drawing guided me to find out the initial idea behind its appearance. Being confident again I started to explore my process, my tutor also gave me advice to “look for some real life examples and find interesting points from them” which I think was quite helpful for me to get my starting point, the issue. Also the connectivity of diagram is highlighted by the tutor when evaluating my initial attempt.

In addition, the outcome of the design can be very different from the initial concept in brain as was transformed and modified round after round by the guideline of any possible thing: initial pattern, panelling possibility, further development potential, Rhino trial and error, etc. Furthermore, not after several hours of no out coming results did I realised that virtual designing is not something I can do overnight! Although the procedure is some sort of tough and pain, I think it made me understand more about the importance of patience need to be poured into this subject,in other words, frustrating is not going to help when stuck at a point without directions, the only thing I should do is to keep trying to do something, or , trying to do anything and let minds flow. It directed me to explore further.

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Bibliography:

1. Figure 1.The perspective of the bridge design something like a spider web http://zamirhakim92.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/architecture-photography.html#!/2011/11/architecture-photography.html

2. Figure 2.The new Kings Cross station concourse in London was redesigned especially for the Olympic Games. It’s an impressive spider web-like design that encompasses the entire ceiling of Kings Cross Station. The lights even change colour http://www.glampacker.com/tag/architecture/

3. Figure 3. Southern cross station,Melbourne.http://andrewwiddis.blogspot.com.au/2008/06/southern-cross-station.html

4.spider web water dropletshttp://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2010/February/03021003.asp

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