Abstract
The paper discusses how courses in mechanics can be taught to industrial design students and architectural students in a manner aimed at presenting concepts in such a way that mechanics becomes an inspiration for the design process rather than a limitation to it. In the courses of this sort that have been held, emphasis has been placed on the use of software for facilitating an intuitive understanding of physical matters related to mechanics and how that understanding can be transformed into design sketches. ForcePAD is a comprehensible software for making sketches and investigating patterns in mechanics. Its aim is to enhance the conception of such factors as balance, weight, stability, rest and movement, support forces, stress fields, and deformation. The paper is based on experience with classes of this sort taught both at Chalmers University in Gothenburg and at Lund University, the weekly tasks students have been given in courses of this type being discussed.
Citation
Sandberg, G., Olsson, K., Lund, M., and Lindeman, J. (2002) Images of forces, in Durling, D. and Shackleton, J. (eds.), Common Ground - DRS International Conference 2002, 5-7 September, London, United Kingdom. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2002/researchpapers/71
Images of forces
The paper discusses how courses in mechanics can be taught to industrial design students and architectural students in a manner aimed at presenting concepts in such a way that mechanics becomes an inspiration for the design process rather than a limitation to it. In the courses of this sort that have been held, emphasis has been placed on the use of software for facilitating an intuitive understanding of physical matters related to mechanics and how that understanding can be transformed into design sketches. ForcePAD is a comprehensible software for making sketches and investigating patterns in mechanics. Its aim is to enhance the conception of such factors as balance, weight, stability, rest and movement, support forces, stress fields, and deformation. The paper is based on experience with classes of this sort taught both at Chalmers University in Gothenburg and at Lund University, the weekly tasks students have been given in courses of this type being discussed.