Helical surfaces and their application in engineering design

Abstract

Ruled surfaces are formed by the movement of a straight line and are known to be used in architecture as a way of simplifying for complex structures. It is necessary to notice that right helicoids are minimal surfaces.Through the centuries helicoids have been applied in architecture mostly for staircase construction as to its minimal space requirement. Nevertheless, helical ruled surfaces are being adopted not only as a single element, but as an overall arrangement of elements or as a single structure. Moreover, the outcome gives place to an innovative variation which will be mentioned and analyzed.