Abstract:

2D and 3D computer aided design and modelling is a valuable skill for students in all technical areas, and graduated students without it could be perceived as incomplete or lacking, so Computer Aided Design (CAD) and modelling must be taught to all of them. Usually, students are taught general-purpose CAD software (for example AutoCAD) that can be used in multiple different scenarios. Unfortunately, general-purpose CAD software cannot be suitably used, or cannot be used at all, for some specific or unusual tasks. For example, designing elements that have a random or pseudorandom component in their design, designing elements that have a repetitive pattern with multiple (hundreds or thousands) smaller elements, or designing a complex structure through a repetitive process of making different variant solutions based on a single model idea, can all be hard to achieve using a general-purpose CAD software and a different tool altogether is needed. For such design problems, firstly an applicable modelling method must be chosen, and parametric modelling is considered to be one of the best, or possibly the best method for the mentioned modelling tasks. When talking about parametric modelling tools, there are many of them which can be used for some specific tasks, but if a more general-purpose parametric modelling tool is needed, then one of the best tools is the Grasshopper Visual Programming Language (VPL) addon for Rhinoceros 3D modelling software. On the Professional graduate study programme of Civil Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Zagreb, Croatia, graduate students are taught parametric modelling with Grasshopper through the course of one academic year. This paper will show examples of creative ideas and approaches that students have undertaken to solve assigned tasks and it will show some of the various possibilities for using Grasshopper in teaching parametric modelling to students.

Keywords:

Parametric modelling, VPL, Grasshopper, student tasks, civil engineering.