Assignment 1 - Final A2 Poster

Above is the A2 poster I submitted for Assignment 1.

Assignment 1 - Grasshopper File

Below is a copy of my GHX file that I developed to create my iterations. Also below is a link to where you can download the file if you wish. FileFront Link: http://www.gamefront.com/files/20170143/Waves_ghx

Assignment 1 - 12 Iterations / Renders

*Note: Diminished quality

Assignment 1 - Trying, trying, trying... FAILING, FAILING, FAILING

I'm sitting here at my computer for the forth night in a row thinking to myself 'why?'. I've been working on this assignment now for days straight, doing 10 hour days and still I cannot get bloody rhino and grasshopper to combine and do what I want them to do. I must admit that I’m not the best scripter in the world, far from it actually. It doesn't matter how hard I try I cannot seem to understand why it doesn't understand and do what I want it to understand and do. its sending me insane. I think I will just have to accept the fact now that I never will understand the language of the computer.

I will admit I did watch the movie 'the social network' the other day to get me inspired to do great things. man what I would do to be Mark Zuckerberg right now. I would have finished this assignment days ago, maybe even in the first week I got it, it would have been a damn good assignment at that, and in the process of it all I would have made myself a millions of dollars (but hey, I did have a ticket in the 2o million lotto draw on the weekend, so you never know, I could be a millionaire right now and not even know it).

But back to the scripting and the more important issues of the time. I find it so frustrating because I can explain exactly what I want to do in English words but I can’t seem to understand how I convert this onto the computer, more specifically, grasshopper. All I want to do is this...

-I want to make a grid, say 15 x 15 I want to place a point at each intersection of the grid (therefore have a total 225 points)

-I want to be able to pick a certain number of points in this space I want these points, however many there is, to be chosen at random positions I want to then be able to manipulate and raise these points in the 'z' axis

- I then want to apply a mesh to this so it creates a 'wave' effect, a nice curvy effect, a bit like someone has put a table cloth over the points.

-From this I would have three variable of: Number of waves, wave heights and wave length (swell)

Sounds simple doesn't it, but know it not believe me, I could do it I would. I will post below all the attempts of what I am trying to do so I can prove to you (whoever if anyone actually reads this, even though it is more likely that this will become lost somewhere in cyber space).

But that's enough jabbering for one night. I’m going to bed and I’m going to wake up in the morning with a positive attitude and I will submit an assignment for this project. I will endeavour to conquer this thing some call ‘scripting’ and ‘coding’, they have no idea what’s coming.

Assignment 1 - Draft Poster

Here is a very rough layout of my poster.

A basic idea is too try an recreate a sort of wave with my images.

Assignment 1 - Photos - Progress - GH Experimentation

Assignment 1 - Two Relevent Student Tutorials

Here is one that I watched on Random 'ness' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLp6wyjNznE

And this is one I watched about dividing surfaces etc - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5RDfRQA0w \

Both of these were really helpful and suggested by students in the discussions thread of Blackboard.

Assignment 1 - Relevant Tutorial

I found this tutorial on 'Graphing the Sin Curve'. It was interesting for my assignment as I am trying to recreate waves. It may not be the eventual way I will complete my assignment but it was defiantly helpful to find a possible way to start it.

http://web.mac.com/rhino3dtv/GH/GH_06_08_Scalar_Demo_Sin.html

Assignment 1 - Images Along The Way

I thought this image waves extremely cool. What these people have done is manipulated the waves in a pond of water and in doing this they have been able to create letters and numbers in the water.

This is a basic Cos Sin curve and shows the mathematical aspect behind waves.

This one was just a nice photo showing the moon and the water. I am interested in exploring tides and the influence the moon has over tides and in effect waves also.

Assignment 1 - Wave Information

In fluid dynamics, wind-generated waves are surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and canals or even on small puddles and ponds. They usually result from the wind blowing over a vast enough stretch of fluid surface. Wind waves range in size from small ripples to huge rogue waves. When directly being generated and affected by the local winds, a wind wave system is called a wind sea. After the wind ceases to blow, wind waves are called swell. They have been generated elsewhere, or some time ago. Wind waves in the ocean are called ocean surface waves.

Tsunamis are a specific type of wave not caused by wind but by geological effects. In deep water, tsunamis are not visible because they are small in height and very long in wavelength. They may grow to devastating proportions at the coast due to reduced water depth.



Wave Formation
Five factors influence the formation of wind waves, 1. Wind speed, 2 Distance of open water that the wind has blown over, 3 Width of area affected by fetch, 4 Time duration the wind has blown over a given area, 5 Water depth.

All of these factors work together to determine the size of wind waves. The greater each of the variables, the larger the waves. Waves are characterized by:
• Wave height (from trough to crest)
• Wavelength (from crest to crest)
• Wave period (time interval between arrival of consecutive crests at a stationary point)
• Wave propagation direction



Types of Wind Waves
Three different types of wind waves develop over time:
1. Capillary waves, or ripples
2. Seas
3. Swells
Ripples appear on smooth water when the wind blows, but will die quickly if the wind stops. The restoring force that allows them to propagate is surface tension. Seas are the larger-scale, often irregular motions that form under sustained winds. They tend to last much longer, even after the wind has died, and the restoring force that allows them to persist is gravity. As seas propagate away from their area of origin, they naturally separate according to their direction and wavelength. The regular wave motions formed in this way are known as swells.

Individual "rogue waves" much higher than the other waves in the sea state can occur. Such waves are distinct from tides, caused by the Moon and Sun's gravitational pull.



Wave Breaking
A breaking wave is one whose base can no longer support its top, causing it to collapse. A wave breaks when it runs into shallow water, or when two wave systems oppose and combine forces. When the slope, or steepness ratio, of a wave is too great, breaking is inevitable.

Three main types of breaking waves are mainly identified by surfers or surf lifesavers. Their varying characteristics make them more or less suitable for surfing, and present different dangers.
- Spilling, or rolling: These are the safest waves on which to surf. They can be found in most areas with relatively flat shorelines. They are the most common type of shorebreak.
- Plunging, or dumping: these break suddenly and can "dump". Strong offshore winds and long wave periods can cause dumpers. They are often found where there is a sudden rise in the sea floor, such as a reef or sandbar.
- Surging: these may never actually break as they approach the water's edge, as the water below them is very deep. They tend to form on steep shorelines.

Back to Basics: Drawing and Sketching Initial Ideas

Today as required by the tasks I got out a piece of paper and began to draw and draft some ideas and thoughts for my assignment.

Theme: Water Waves and The Moon

In conducting research I have come across these very informative sources:

http://www.owrc.com/waves/waves.html
This website explains a lot about the theory of waves. It explains the ‘mathematics’ behind waves and how they are formed. It also explains the key elements of waves (the Fetch, wind direction, height, length and direction to name a few). Although the website is simple and basic in its terms it is extremely easy to understand and has given me a basic knowledge to what and how was are formed.

http://users.dickinson.edu/~richesod/waves/index.html
This website was informative as it explains the actual math’s behind waves. It is a little too technical and advanced for me but I still found it very interesting finding out that behind waves there is actually a mathematical equation that can be used to describe it.

Journal - Gravitational effects of the period of high tides and the new moon on lunacy
Daniel E. Myers, Emergency Clinic, Department of Oral Medicine/Pathology, Division of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
'There is a lunar gravitational constituent to atmospheric air pressure and emf tides, and these have essentially the same timing characteristics as ocean tidal forces. Again, a principal semidiurnal effect with diurnal and fortnightly modulation would be expected. In addition, in contrast to the ocean tides, atmospheric tides are driven more by thermal energy than by gravity. To reinforce this idea, the maximum lunar contribution to barometric pressure variation reported is 0.02 mmHg. Normal barometric pressure at sea level is 760 mmHg. Lunar contribution to emf tides is 5%) while solar contribution is 95%. '

3 Possible Themes for Assignment 1

Theme One:
Waves (Ocean and The Beach)

(Image Source: http://burtonini.com/photos/2004-LakeGarda/)

I chose this image because one of my favourite things to do is to go to the beach. Whether it is going for a swim in the ocean, going surfing or simply just sitting there watching the waves I find something quite peaceful and relaxing when I do these things. I also find it very intriguing and interesting because no two waves are ever the same, sure some might be similar but no two are ever exactly the same.


Theme Two:
Bikes (Different Types of Bikes and Places to Ride)

(Image Source: http://www.doobybrain.com/2009/11/22/bicycle-wheel-coasters/)

I picked this image because one of my favourite exercises is to go bike riding. I like that there are so many different types of bikes to ride and so many different places to explore. Whether it is riding on the road, through a bush track or simply around a park there are so many different types of bikes to chose from and each has its own unique and specific applications and function.


Theme Three:
Trees (Native Trees i.e. Gumtrees)

(Image Source: http://www.cityofsound.com/blog/2006/07/the_shock_of_th.html)

As I live near bushland I selected this image because I have grown up to appreciate and respect the wonders of nature and special beauty that native flora can have, particularly gumtrees other native trees. Similarly to the ocean and waves no two trees, no matter how similar they may be are exactly the same. Every tree has its own unique characteristics. I find it amazing how trees can find was of adapting to the surroundings and environment in order to survive.