Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping
In the design of structures, joint design significantly influences aesthetics, structural performance, tectonics, and member geometry. In this study, a Y-shaped, polyhedral cantilever with fixed joints was transformed into five different trussed configurations using universal joints. Enabled by 3D-p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2025-0009 |
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| author | Filz Günther H. Eberle Robert Nagl Pia V. Weinold Thomas |
| author_facet | Filz Günther H. Eberle Robert Nagl Pia V. Weinold Thomas |
| author_sort | Filz Günther H. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the design of structures, joint design significantly influences aesthetics, structural performance, tectonics, and member geometry. In this study, a Y-shaped, polyhedral cantilever with fixed joints was transformed into five different trussed configurations using universal joints. Enabled by 3D-printed plug-in joints, a full-scale trussed cantilever was repeatedly (dis-)assembled. Graphic statics principles drastically simplified the branch count and design. Beyond its structural significance, joint articulation impacts element/connector count, required cross-sections i.e. material mass and associated sustainability, and visual appeal/aesthetics. By comparing results obtained from computational and physical methods, including Karamba3D, load tests, terrestrial laser scanning the prototype’s unloaded and loaded states, and the associated mathematical quantities, this paper draws conclusions on (i) structural performance, (ii) material consumption, and (iii) complexity and architectural aesthetics. Presented research integrates architectural and structural design, teaching, hands-on experience and testing on digital and physical levels, offering insights for efficient construction, sustainable practices, modularity, and advanced manufacturing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0fb2cea05671476f82ee9e23c002d5d8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2720-6947 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-0fb2cea05671476f82ee9e23c002d5d82025-08-20T03:07:05ZengSciendoArchitecture, Civil Engineering, Environment2720-69472025-05-0118111312810.2478/acee-2025-0009Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & PrototypingFilz Günther H.0Eberle Robert1Nagl Pia V.2Weinold Thomas3Univ. Prof. Dipl. Ing. Dr. techn. M. Eng.; University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Architecture, Lightweight Structures Unit (LSU), 6020Innsbruck, AustriaDipl.-Ing. Dr.; University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Engineering Mathematics, 6020Innsbruck, AustriaUniv. Prof. Dipl. Ing. Dr. techn. M. Eng.; University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Architecture, Lightweight Structures Unit (LSU), 6020Innsbruck, AustriaDipl.-Ing. Dr.; University of Innsbruck, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Geometry and Surveying, 6020Innsbruck, AustriaIn the design of structures, joint design significantly influences aesthetics, structural performance, tectonics, and member geometry. In this study, a Y-shaped, polyhedral cantilever with fixed joints was transformed into five different trussed configurations using universal joints. Enabled by 3D-printed plug-in joints, a full-scale trussed cantilever was repeatedly (dis-)assembled. Graphic statics principles drastically simplified the branch count and design. Beyond its structural significance, joint articulation impacts element/connector count, required cross-sections i.e. material mass and associated sustainability, and visual appeal/aesthetics. By comparing results obtained from computational and physical methods, including Karamba3D, load tests, terrestrial laser scanning the prototype’s unloaded and loaded states, and the associated mathematical quantities, this paper draws conclusions on (i) structural performance, (ii) material consumption, and (iii) complexity and architectural aesthetics. Presented research integrates architectural and structural design, teaching, hands-on experience and testing on digital and physical levels, offering insights for efficient construction, sustainable practices, modularity, and advanced manufacturing.https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2025-0009architectural engineeringdesign thinkinglaser scanningprototypingstructural performance |
| spellingShingle | Filz Günther H. Eberle Robert Nagl Pia V. Weinold Thomas Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment architectural engineering design thinking laser scanning prototyping structural performance |
| title | Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping |
| title_full | Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping |
| title_fullStr | Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping |
| title_short | Transforming a Cantilever with Fixed Joints into Trussed Configurations: A Case Study in Creative Design Thinking & Prototyping |
| title_sort | transforming a cantilever with fixed joints into trussed configurations a case study in creative design thinking prototyping |
| topic | architectural engineering design thinking laser scanning prototyping structural performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/acee-2025-0009 |
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