Growth Simulation
Adding to the idea to use trees and bushes to shape twigs, branches and trunks or to build complete support structures, the question in terms predictability of the plant growth and structure regarding geometry, dimension, cross-section and strength comes up. Hereby, it is possible to connect to the already existing bases of the Functional Structural Plant Model (FSPM). The FSPM builds on a diagrammed plant Typology. This plant morphology, meaning the order, number and organization of the building of knots, stems, leaves and buds, is given through the help of the Lindenmayer-System. It is possible to respect procedures of different time spans and thickness growth as well as mechanisms of different trope types.
For the formulation of a question, an algorithm of form a structure optimization or evolutionary algorithm are consulted to formulate a question regarding the structural properties such as geometry, cross-section and resistance, and combined with the FSPM.
The use of trees to shape structural constructions raises the question of the analysis of plant growth in geometry, dimensions, cross-section or strength. In this sense, it is possible to connect the existing basis of the Functional Structural Plant Model (FSPM), a diagrammatic model based on the Lindenmayer System, with a mechanical model.
Through the integration of this computational model it is possible to simulate the process of plant self-formation and growth thicknesses, growth rings, as well as the consequences generated in plant growth through different types of tropisms.
Publications:
http://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/812180
http://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/731678
http://publications.rwth-aachen.de/record/709244