Modeling of focal-directorial surfaces for application in architecture

Abstract

The theme of this paper is the modeling of focal-directorial surfaces, starting with their definition, as a locus of points, whose sum of the distances to the focus and/or directrix is constant and predefined. We presented a heuristic algorithm for modeling surfaces and their isocurves, achieved through the use of the Grasshopper visual programming editor in the RhinoCeros environment. Surfaces and their isocurves were generated in a spherical grid, because a Cartesian grid proved unsuitable for the task and the chosen approach. This paper additionally proposes a modeling algorithm of a discrete variation of focal-directorial surfaces. The proposed modeling method is a 3D convex hull implemented on a set of surface points, with the selected points close to that surface. The discrete model is realized both in a Cartesian and spherical grid. There are significant differences between the obtained results.