Mathematical and structural properties of Geodesic curves: an application on a free form gridshell

Gridshells are often characterized by hard plan and building difficulties, usually combined with considerable budgets: this paper shows how the application of geodesic curves enables to build a free form gridshell with a modest budget and a swift, simple process of assembling. After an introduction presenting contingencies at the origin of the research, the second paragraph inquires the mathematical properties of geodesic curves, and the third one explores their corresponding structural properties. In the fourth paragraph advantages of geodesic curves are explicated, and in the fifth one designing methods to apply geodesic curves are shown, as the innovative way used to represent the gridshell within the building yard. The sixth paragraph shows details and building peculiarities of the gridshell, whose shape continuously evolves during the building and that was build in October 2007. Conclusions point out the benefits and problems of application of geodesic curves in gridshells.