VGS Tool - Vector-based Graphic Statics

Vector-based Graphic Static (VGS) is a direct extension of traditional 2D graphic statics to the third dimension. VGS introduced a generalized procedure for the construction of a 3D vector-based force diagram for any given 3D form diagram of a spatial network in static equilibrium. By establishing an interdependency between form and force diagrams, VGS allows users to transform one of the diagrams and evaluate the resulting transformation of the other diagram directly. This property allows for a quick and interactive exploration of possible equilibrium solutions in the early design phase. VGS Tool is implemented as a plug-in for the CAD environment McNeel Rhino/Grasshopper for both Windows and MacOS.

VGS Tool is developed and maintained by:


If you use the VGS Tool, please reference the official GitHub repository:
@Misc{vgs2021,
author = {D'Acunto, Pierluigi and Shen, Yuchi and Jasienski, Jean-Philippe and Ohlbrock, Patrick Ole},
title = {{VGS Tool: Vector-based Graphic Statics}},
year = {2021},
note = {Release 1.00 Beta},
url = {https://github.com/pierluigidacunto/VGS},
}

VGS Tool makes use of the following libraries:



To install VGS Tool, please copy the folder "VGS1.00beta" in the "Libraries" folder of Grasshopper. If you work on Windows, please make sure that the files are unlocked. VGS requires Rhino7 SR13 for Windows or Rhino7 SR13 for MacOS or later.

Publications related to the VGS project include:

  • D'Acunto Pierluigi, Jasienski Jean-Philippe, Ohlbrock Patrick Ole, Fivet Corentin, Schwartz Joseph, Zastavni Denis: Vector-based 3D graphic statics: A framework for the design of spatial structures based on the relation between form and forces, International Journal of Solids and Structures, Volume 167, pp. 58-70, 2019
  • Shen Yuchi, D'Acunto Pierluigi, Jasienski Jean-Philippe, Ohlbrock Patrick Ole_: A new tool for the conceptual design of structures in equilibrium based on graphic statics, International fib Symposium on Conceptual Design of Structures, Attisholz, 2021
  • D'Acunto Pierluigi, Jasienski Jean-Philippe, Ohlbrock Patrick Ole, Fivet Corentin: Vector-based 3D Graphic Statics: Transformations of Force Diagrams. Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2017 - Interfaces: Architecture Engineering Science, Hamburg, 2017
  • D'Acunto Pierluigi, Ohlbrock Patrick Ole, Jasienski Jean-Philippe, Fivet Corentin: Vector-based 3D Graphic Statics (Part I): Evaluation of Global Equilibrium. Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2016 - Spatial Structures in the 21st Century, Tokyo, 2016
  • Jasienski Jean-Philippe, D'Acunto Pierluigi, Ohlbrock Patrick Ole, Fivet Corentin: Vector-based 3D Graphic Statics (Part II): Construction of Force Diagrams. Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2016 - Spatial Structures in the 21st Century, Tokyo, 2016
  • Ohlbrock Patrick Ole, D'Acunto Pierluigi, Jasienski Jean-Philippe, Fivet Corentin: Vector-Based 3D Graphic Statics (Part III): Designing with Combinatorial Equilibrium Modelling, Proceedings of the IASS Annual Symposium 2016 - Spatial Structures in the 21st Century, Tokyo, 2016