Richard Haddlesey

A Dissertation submitted as part requirement for the

MSc Archaeological Computing (virtual pasts)

“Virtual Meccano”:The Creation of Virtual Joints toExplore Vernacular Timber-framedConstruction Methods of the LateMedieval Period (c1400-1530).

For the

School of HumanitiesDepartment of Archaeology

By

Richard John Haddlesey

30/09/2005

30/09/2005 Virtual Meccanoi

www.medievalarhitecture.netwww.medievalarchitecture.net

Richard Haddlesey

Table of Contents

Table of Contents......................................................................................ii

Table of figures........................................................................................iii

List of tables..............................................................................................iv

Abstract..........................................................................................................v

Keywords.....................................................................................................v

1

Introduction.............................................................................................1

‘Is there anything in Virtual Archaeology but wonderful images?’(Barceló 2000)..............................................................................................4

2

A background to vernacular timber-framed construction methods of thelate medieval period........................................................................................5

The Black Death in England..............................................................6

The study area...................................................................................8

The fully developed medieval floor plan..........................................10

3

Current Technological Approaches....................................................13

Computer Aided Design (CAD)........................................................14

Deciding on an appropriate vehicle upon which to drive the researchforward.......................................................................................................20

Cultural Virtual Reality (CVR)..........................................................21

Three-dimensional modelling.............................................................24

4

Aims and Objectives............................................................................26

5

Methodology.........................................................................................28

Selecting and using an appropriate software interface....................28

Selecting which elements to model.................................................39

Creating the joints in 3ds max............................................................42

Texturing for context..........................................................................44

Selecting appropriate mediums to enable the dissemination of the visualdatabase.....................................................................................................46

Modelling for pseudo interaction.........................................................50

Using the joints to build a structure.....................................................51

6

An issue of authenticity.......................................................................59

Setting parameters by definition.........................................................62

7

Conclusions..........................................................................................65

8

Recommendations................................................................................70

9 Archive and metadata..........................................................................71

Acknowledgements..............................................................................74

Glossary................................................................................................75

Bibliography.................................................................................................80

30/09/2005 Virtual Meccanoii

Richard Haddlesey

Table of figures

Figure 1, the typical late medieval open hall, c.15th century............................3

Figure 2, the geological boundary between lowland and highland England.....8

Figure 3, the tie beam lap-dovetail assembly.................................................11

Figure 4, Euclidean geometry........................................................................12

Figure 5, the tie beam lap-dovetail joint as a solid 3D model.........................12

Figure 6, dimension reading in AutoCAD.......................................................15

Figure 7, selecting individual elements in AutoCAD.......................................16

Figure 8, selection of levels in AutoCAD........................................................17

Figure 9, the beauty and realism achievable in virtual archaeology...............23

Figure 10, traditional 2D illustrations..............................................................40

Figure 11, modern 3D illustration...................................................................41

Figure 12, 3D wire frame illustration..............................................................41

Figure 13, using the Boolean operators to "cut" the shapes..........................43

Figure 14, random colours with no true context.............................................45

Figure 15, wooden texture giving context but detracting from the realism.....45

Figure 16, using a mobile phone to display the joints....................................49

Figure 17, building the single cell walls..........................................................53

Figure 18, adding more joints........................................................................53

Figure 19, adding the interim uprights............................................................54

Figure 20, joining the joints together..............................................................54

Figure 21, screen shot of the creation process..............................................55

Figure 22, screen shot of the user interface clearly showing the joint locations.......................................................................................................................55

Figure 23, just the joints with no infill.............................................................56

Figure 24, showing the tenon in place before the mortice is aligned.............56

Figure 25, the finished wall frames................................................................57

Figure 26, the finished wall frames with transparent infills.............................57

Figure 27, the finished wall frames with transparent infills and wire frame joints..............................................................................................................58

Figure 28, wire frame version of figure 22......................................................58

Figure 29, a single cell structure created using the "virtual Meccano set" seenas a solid model.............................................................................................68

Figure 30, a single cell structure created using the "virtual Meccano set" seenwith wire frame joints and transparent infills..................................................68

Figure 31, a single cell structure created using the "virtual Meccano set" seenwith wire frame joints and solid infills.............................................................69

Figure 32, a single cell structure created using the "virtual Meccano set" seenwith solid joints and wire infills.......................................................................69

Figure 33, an illustrated glossary...................................................................79

30/09/2005 Virtual Meccanoiii

r haddlesey virtual meccano

Download this Document for Free Print Mobile Collections Report Document

This is a private document.

Info and Rating

Dr Richard Haddlesey

Share & Embed

Related Documents

More from this user

Add a Comment