…And so on….
[Software credit: I made these images using Stella 4d, which you can try for free right here.]
Packing Space with Great Rhombcuboctahedra and Octagonal Prisms
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Tag Archives: space-filling
Octahedra and Truncated Cubes Can Fill Space Without Leaving Any Gaps
I created this using Stella 4d, which you can try for free right here. It’s much like a tessellation, but in three dimensions instead of two.
Space-Filling Truncated Octahedra in a Rhombic Dodecahedral Cluster
The truncated octahedron is well-known as the only Archimedean solid which can fill space, by itself, without leaving any gaps. The cluster below shows this, and has the overall shape of a rhombic dodecahedron.
It’s easier to see the rhombic dodecahedral shape of this cluster when looking at its convex hull:
Both images here were made using Stella 4d, which you can try for free right here.
A Space-Filling Lattice of Truncated Octahedra
Truncated octahedra are among the special polyhedra which can fill space without leaving any gaps. There are others, as well. This image was created using Stella 4d, software you may try, for yourself, right here. There is a free “try it before you buy it” download available.
A Space-Filling Arrangement of Polyhedra Using Truncated Cubes, Rhombcuboctahedra, Cubes, and Octagonal Prisms
This image above has only one polyhedron-type hidden from view, in the center: a red truncated cube. Next, more of this pattern I just found will be added.
The next step will be to add another layer of blue octagonal prisms.
And now, more yellow cubes.
This was an accidental discovery I made, just messing around with Stella 4d, a program you may try for yourself at http://www.software3d.com/Stella.php. The next cells added will be red truncated cubes.
Next up, I’ll add a set of pink rhombcuboctahedra.
The next set of polyhedra added: some yellow cubes, and blue octagonal prisms.
Now I’ll add more of the red truncated cubes.
At this point, more yellow cubes are needed.
The next polyhedra added will be pink rhombcuboctahedra.
And now, more of the blue octagonal prisms.
As long as this pattern is followed, this may be continued without limit, filling space, without leaving any gaps.
A Space-Filling Pair of Polyhedra: The Cuboctahedron and the Octahedron
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There are only a few polyhedra which can fill space without leaving gaps, without “help” from a second polyhedron. This filling of space is the three-dimensional version of tessellating a plane. Among those that can do this are the cube, the truncated octahedron, and the rhombic dodecahedron.
If multiple polyhedra are allowed in a space-filling pattern, this opens new possibilities. Here is one: the filling of space by cuboctahedra and octahedra. There are others, and they are likely to appear as future blog-posts here.
Software credit: I made this virtual model using Stella 4d, polyhedral-manipulation software you can buy, or try as a free trial download, at http://www.software3d.com/Stella.php.
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