Skip to main content

Maximum Flow Networks for Stability Analysis of LEGO®Structures

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 7501))

Abstract

To determine the stability of LEGO® structures is an interesting problem because the special binding mechanism prohibits the usage of methods of structural frame design or dynamic physics engines. We propose a new two-phase approach where instances of maximum-flow networks are constructed. In a first phase, the distribution of compressive and tensile forces is computed which is used in a second phase to model the moments within the structure. By solving the maximum-flow networks we can use the resulting flow as a sufficient criterion for the stability of the structure. The approach is demonstrated for two exemplary structures which outperform previous results using a multi-commodity flow network.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Cherkassky, B.V., Goldberg, A.V.: On implementing the push-relabel method for the maximum flow problem. Algorithmica 19, 390–410 (1997)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Edmonds, J., Karp, R.M.: Theoretical improvements in algorithmic efficiency for network flow problems. Journal of the ACM 19(2), 248–264 (1972)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Funes, P., Pollack, J.B.: Computer evolution of buildable objects. In: Husbands, P., Harvey, I. (eds.) Fourth European Conf. on Artificial Life, pp. 358–367. MIT Press, Cambridge (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Funes, P., Pollack, J.B.: Computer evolution of buildable objects. In: Bentley, P.J. (ed.) Evolutionary Design by Computers, pp. 387–403. Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Funes, P.J.: Buildable evolution. SIGEVOlution 2(3), 6–19 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Goldberg, A.V., Tarjan, R.E.: A new approach to the maximum flow problem. Journal of the ACM 35, 921–940 (1988)

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  7. Waßmann, M.: Physiksimulation und Evolution von LEGO®-Strukturen. Master’s thesis, HTWK Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Waßmann, M., Weicker, K.: Buildable objects revisited. To appear in PPSN 2012 – 12th International Conference on Parallel Problem Solving from Nature. Springer, Heidelberg (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Waßmann, M., Weicker, K. (2012). Maximum Flow Networks for Stability Analysis of LEGO®Structures. In: Epstein, L., Ferragina, P. (eds) Algorithms – ESA 2012. ESA 2012. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 7501. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33090-2_70

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33090-2_70

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-33089-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-33090-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics