RhinoVAULT 2

Funicular form finding based on the COMPAS framework

The Rhinoceros® plug-in RhinoVAULT, developed by Dr. Matthias Rippmann at the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich, emerged from research on structural form finding using the Thrust Network Analysis (TNA) approach to intuitively create and explore compression-only structures.

Using reciprocal diagrams, RhinoVAULT provides an intuitive, fast funicular form-finding method, adopting the same advantages of techniques such as Graphic Statics, but offering a viable extension to three-dimensional problems. Our goal is to share a transparent setup to let you not only create beautiful shapes but also to give you an understanding of the underlying structural principles.

Development of RV 1 has stopped. We developed the brand-new version, RhinoVAULT 2, based on the COMPAS framework. Happy form finding!

Research Platform

‌RhinoVAULT 2 (RV2) is an open-source research and development platform for funicular form-finding built with COMPAS, a Python-based framework for computational research and collaboration in Architecture, Engineering, and Digital Fabrication.

RV2 is a Rhino plugin that replaces RhinoVAULT for Rhino versions 6 and above. Unlike RhinoVAULT, RV2 no longer relies on Rhino for its computational implementation. Instead, it is built entirely with open source packages from the COMPAS ecosystem and will, therefore, be available not only for Rhino and Grasshopper, but also for Blender and other tools with a Python scripting interface, and ultimately even in the browser.

COMPAS

The core functionality of RV2 is based on the following COMPAS packages and can be used in any environment that supports Python.

  • compas

    • Base data structures

    • File support

    • Numerical solvers

    • Geometry processing

  • compas_tna

    • Form, Force and Thrust Diagrams

    • Horizontal equilibrium

    • Vertical equilibrium

For the design of force patterns in Form Diagrams, we use

  • compas_singular

    • Pattern design based on topological features and placement of singularities in quad meshes.

  • compas_skeleton

    • Pattern design based on line skeletons.

  • compas_triangle

    • Pattern design based on Constrained/Conforming Delaunay Triangulations.

CAD integration packages make this core functionality available in specific software like Blender or Rhino. The current release of RV2 provides only a plugin for Rhino (Blender and Grasshopper integration is under development and will be available soon):

  • compas_rhino

    • Geometry and data structure conversions.

    • Drawing functionality.

    • Selections and interaction.

  • compas_cloud

    • Remote Procedure Calls

Main features

  • Python based

  • Based on the COMPAS core framework and packages

  • Open source

  • Fully extendible and customisable

Limitations

RV2 is currently implemented specifically for Rhinoceros 6. However, the core pipeline is set up flexibly without any dependencies to a specific CAD software; CAD software simply functions as the visualisation canvas and UI. Future releases will include implementations for other CAD software.

Furthermore, the UI menu is only available for Rhino6 on Windows. The plugin works on Mac but has to be used from the Rhino Command Prompt (no menu or toolbar available for Mac).

Open Source

The development of RV2 is hosted on Github and is entirely open source, and we very much welcome your feedback. Please use the issue tracker of the RV2 GitHub repository to submit information about bugs, technical problems, or feature requests.

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