Computational Exploration of Multistable Elastic Knots

• Published in: ACM transactions on graphics Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1 - 16
• Main Authors: Vidulis, Michele, Ren, Yingying, Panetta, Julian, Grinspun, Eitan, Pauly, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY, USA ACM 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Computer graphics; Computing methodologies; Modeling and simulation; Shape modeling; physics-based simulation; elastic knots; multistability; numerical optimization; fabrication

We present an algorithmic approach to discover, study, and design multistable elastic knots. Elastic knots are physical realizations of closed curves embedded in 3-space. When endowed with the material thickness and bending resistance of a physical wire, these knots settle into equilibrium states th...