MODULE 1: IDEATION

Amaya de Silva

Student No: 583889 Semester 1/2012 Group 7/8

               

             

Natural Process: Splash A splash is formed when an air cavity is formed between the object and the liquid. Some shapes will displace the liquid more than others, and this extra force causes the liquid to be pushed up. As the object falls into the liquid, an air cavity forms, the pressure surrounding the liquid consumes the air, and the water shoots upwards, causing a splash. If the object is dropped with no acceleration the only force acting upon the object is gravity. The sphere, cube and cylinder (or pole) can be considered as being a “bomb”, “belly flop” and “straight dive”, respectively, when diving into a pool. A platform diver produces a small amount of splash due to the way in which he or she enters the water. This can be modeled by a thin cylinder or pole entering a liquid.

Splash Technology

           

   

   

         

Different objects have different surface areas when hitting the surface of a liquid. Depending on the type of shape and the size of the area, differing amounts of splash are created. The three following processes relate to the shapes and surface area of objects and the amount of splash created once hitting a liquid.

A Spherical Perspective

Time Lapse

Jet  Air  

Cavity  

The first is that of a sphere being dropped into liquid, due to its spherical shape, the angle that that object enters the water is even all round and therefore the air cavity is also uniform. This created a even, splash with a relatively tall jet.

Too  uniform  to  model  and  explore  

   

     

       

When an object with a large surface area, such as a cube is dropped into a liquid, the surface not even and makes contact with the liquid all at once, making the air pocket very wide. A sphere on enters and makes contact with the liquid in “stages”, with the object actually penetrating the liquid at an angle, not flat, like the cube. There is a larger splash (and less “jet”) from the cube than the sphere. This has to do with the air pocket created by the cube.

A Cubic Approach Time Lapse

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In the event that a pole or an object of similar shape drops into liquid, an object with a small surface area breaks the surface tension of the liquid. This is similar to the sphere as this means that the air cavity created is smaller and therefore creates a smaller splash. During the process of the splash, the splash will be of smaller width and will have a smaller volume. This means less liquid is lost, and a smaller “jet”.

Again, too uniform and tame to create a model or explore further

                           

             

A Splash in Society

In Figure 1.0, the water and its movement is used as an inspiration for this design for the Chicago Aqua Tower. Jeanne Gang’s deign using the ebb and flow of water to create an unorthodox structure. Figure 2.0 also displays the creases and waves created by water. Both of these can be used as an inspiration for paneling, by using the texture of the water itself.

The idea of a splash as a structure has been previously explored by Dennis Oppenheim's solo exhibition called Splash buildings, at Royale Projects in California, shown in Figure 3.0. This concept is similar to the natural process I wanted to explore - the idea that from something so stills a large process like a splash can be created. Figure 4.0 shows the functionality and depth that a splash can create, which still being of such large volume.

Figure 1.0 Figure 2.0 Figure 4.0 Figure 3.0

     

                       

     

                     

Process of a Splash – Sketch for Modeling

A number of preliminary sketches were conducted, but all seemed literal and much too obvious.

       

               

                 

A Splash in Clay Form

The Process

of a Splash

The models become progressively more aggressive in nature, and each model interprets the process of a splash differently. The final model is essentially the chosen process, as it shows the nature of the splash before, during and at the end of a splash.

The form modeled below is the essence of the lantern I want to create. It perceives the crazy unpredictable nature of a splash as well as depicting the moments at the end of a splash when only a few droplets are left to define the splash.  

         

     

                   

An Underwater Explosion

This second model defines the actual process of a splash, underneath the liquid. It models the explosion of energy created beneath the liquid as the object (here a sphere) enters the liquid and push the liquid above it out of the surface. This model also shows the random and unpredictable nature of a splash. Although this model is very different to the one above, and describes a completely different step of the process of a splash, it models another aspect of a splash and shows the stable nature (object) and the unstable nature (moving water) of a splash.

Too literal, once again

       

       

                       

             

Five Words Exercise Implosion Geometry

Although I explored many pictures and photos of the other four words, the word “implosion was the most workable. But instead of just using the idea of an implosion, both implosion and explosion was explored, both relating to the action of the water, once an object has been dropped into it.

MESSY WATER UNPREDICTABLE IMPLOSION ENGERY  

               

               

   

                     

Charcoal Quick Sketches

                 

           

I attempted to use Gimp at to morph a few images of implosions and explosions together. The resultant image is on the right. The same idea of implosion and explosion was used when photographing the model. Using a few techniques to shake the image, an explosion like effect was created. I attempted to use the process of a splash to interpret certain aspects of the process. The implosion experienced during a splash under the water and the explosion seen outside of the liquid is what I attempted to model.

     

     

                                       

Due to the geometrical identity of the model, the orthographic views of the model are all very similar. The front looks very similar to the back, and each side has very similar components. This is mainly to portray the unpredictable nature of a splash. Right-angled triangles were used to show the crazy outward implosion that occurs during a splash (under the water) and explosion that occurs above the water. Side

Front

Top

Bottom

Side

Not sure how this will be modeled in Rhino, or if it is indeed possible at all.

A Preliminary Model

                                             

           

A few lighting and shadowing techniques were used to highlight certain aspects of the model. The first photo was to highlight the back few panels of the model. The other photos were aimed to highlight the front of the model and the bottom of the model. These different techniques were used essentially to see the other sides of the model at a different angle and perspective.

 

   

                           

A Secondary Model

These other models were made to also incorporate the idea of a splash. Triangles, which were mentioned in the lecture to be a useful shape and used in nearly all structures, were used here in this second model. The use of triangles in this model was to emphasize the droplets of water as they splash away from the initial area of impact. Its defined features are to show that there is a pattern related to every splash and that its outcome can be predicted, even though it may seem quiet messy or unpredictable.

Although this model was made after the first model, it was merely a test, and will most probably not be used  

               

       

Rhino Attempts