On the Dynamical Tendency of Intuitively Designed Shapes

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In various simple objects, we can find shapes that effectively avoid stress concentration. These shapes can be observed in the structural elements of objects, and these elements show some simple form. Such elements can be found in the design of many historical products such as agricultural tools, machine tools, and classic cars as well as modern machines, Most of the elements have been designed intuitively with some knowledge obtained from experience in the given situation. One of the dynamical characteristics observed in the stress distribution of the shapes is stress coherence.As a case study, some shapes for beer mug handles were designed intuitively, and the characteristics of the shapes were examined using finite element analysis. As a result, it was demonstrated that there is a clear relationship between the aesthetic desirability of shapes and stress coherence. It was further suggested that a computer aided design system intended to reproduce the structural characteristics which induce such coherence will be able to design complex forms numerically. If a design system is able to produce shapes displaying coherence, coordination of sense of design and the design process can be expected as well as avoidance of stress concentration.Finally, we tried to propose a shape design method which would imitate the process of growth found in nature, which is generally a mechanism that avoids stress concentration. This method could then become one of the basic system for designing shapes containing stress coherence.