Corner-Sharing Tetrahedra for Modeling Micro-structure

Comput Aided Des. 2019 Sep:114:164-178. doi: 10.1016/j.cad.2019.05.015. Epub 2019 May 14.

Abstract

This paper introduces Corner-Sharing Tetrahedra (CoSTs), a minimalist, constraint-graph representation of micro-structure. CoSTs have built-in structural guarantees, such as connectivity and minimal rigidity. CoSTs form a space, fully accessible via local operations, that is rich enough to design regular or irregular micro-structure at multiple scales within curved objects. All operations are based on efficient local graph manipulation, which also enables efficient analysis and adjustment of static physical properties. Geometric and material detail, parametric or solid splines, can be added locally, on-demand, for example, for printing.

Keywords: constraint graphs; corner-sharing tetrahedra; geometric constraint systems; isostatic; metamaterial; micro-mechanics; rigidity of frameworks.