Form Finding Lab – Princeton University

Welcome

Our research focuses on the mechanics and design of slender large-span shells, membranes, and elastic rod networks under extreme loading and during construction. Our work concerns shape generation and analysis approaches for innovative lightweight structural systems that enable a resilient, and sustainable built environment. We focus on the advancement of theoretical and computational approaches to predict and design the overall properties, stability, and failure of these systems. If you think there might be a fit and you would like to work with me, please contact me to begin a conversation and include your CV and transcript many months in advance of application deadlines (sadriaen@princeton.edu). For more details about how to apply click here.

Prof. S. Adriaenssens
Associate Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Princeton University

THE EDWARD AND MARY ALLEN LECTURE IN STRUCTURAL DESIGN: HARNESSING EXTRAORDINARY MECHANICS FOR STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Join me for the MIT Architecture | Fall 2021 Lecture Series: The Edward and Mary Allen Lecture in Structural Design. This lecture will be held in person in Huntington Hall, 10-250 at 6:00pm om Thursday 30 October and streamed online.

FPO: OLEK PRESENTS HIS DOCTORAL WORK !

On Friday 9/23/, Olek (Alexander) Niewiarowski defends his work on “Towards a conic programming implementation of tension field theory for the static analysis of pneumatic membrane structures” at 11am in Friend 006.

POST-DOC POSITION AVAILABLE

The Form Finding Lab in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Princeton University invites applications for a post-doctoral or more senior research position to support research on the robotic construction of discrete element systems. Read more here

AWARD: POINEERS’AWARD

I am humbled to have received the Pioneers' Award today amongst such prominent engineers. It has been a tradition of the Spatial Structures Research Centre of the University of Surrey, to recognise and honour those who have made significant contributions in the field of spatial structures.

AWARD: Architect’s Magazine R+D Award

The LightVault won the 2021 Architect’s Magazine R+D Award. This is what Juror Jane Grant said “The success of the installation shows the impact that robotic solutions can have on the construction industry—they’re not just stacking vertical walls, but also creating complex shapes.”

FUNDING: NSF – CMMI WASTE-FREE ROBOTIC CONSTRUCTION OF SPATIAL DISCRETE ELEMENT STRUCTURES

We are delighted to receive an NSF - CMMI grant to generate a new understanding of how form finding, and element layout approaches coupled with robotic phasing and path-planning algorithms, can be tailored to the robotic assembly of spatial discrete element systems without requiring any scaffolding or formwork.

HONOR: VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SHELL AND SPATIAL STRUCTURES

I am humbled to have been elected as vice president to the International Association of Shell and Spatial Structures. This international Associations bring together researchers and practitioners working in the areas of lightweight structures and has included many prominent and inspirational structural designers and artists under its members including Felix Candela, Heinz Isler and Bill Baker. I

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Mapped phase field method for brittle fracture

We developed a mapped phase field method for problems of brittle fracture.- T. Xue, S. Adriaenssens, S. Mao, 'Mapped phase field method for brittle fracture ', Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, Publication Date: JULY 29 2021, DOI:10.1016/j.cma.2021.114046

AWARD: Structural Engineers Association of Illinois: Best Special Structure for the LightVault

Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) honored the LightVault as a winner in the Best Special Structures category! SEAOI's Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards competition takes place every year recognizing innovative achievements in structural engineering.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: ILLUSTRATING MEMBRANE-DOMINATED REGIMES IN PRESSURIZED THIN SHELLS

We are on the cover of the Journal of the International Association of Shell and Spatial Structures! with our study that clarifies the consequences of membrane vs shell formulation choice for pressurized thin-walled structures. O. Niewiarowksi, R. Pauletti, S. Adriaenssens (2021), ‘Illustrating membrane-dominated regimes in pressurized thin shells’, DOI:10.20898/j.iass.2021.017

AWARD: MATTHIAS RIPPMANN PRIZE

For my "continuous scholarship and innovation at the intersection of architecture and structural design" I have been awarded the 2021 Matthias Rippman Prize, granted by DigitalFUTURES (Tongji University). I am grateful for this recognition of our work!

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Three cooperative robotic fabrication methods for the scaffold-free construction of a masonry arch

I am happy that I can share with you the research that went into to the construction of the scaffold-free construction of the glass brick masonry LightVault E.G.P. Bruun, R. Pastrana, V. Paris, A. Pizzigoni, S. Parascho, S. Adriaenssens*|, (2021) ‘Cooperative Robotic Fabrication Methods for the Scaffold-Free Construction of a Masonry Arch’, Automation in Construction, Publication Date: JUNE 23

CHAPTER PUBLICATION: Shell structures for large span roofs

I am delighted to contribute to the German 1st edition of "Manual of Structural Design", published by DETAIL, May 2021. Stay tuned for the launch of the English Edition in 2022! S. Adriaenssens, ‘Leichte Konstruktionen für weitspannende Dächer, in Atlas Tragwerke (Manual of Structural Design), 1st ed. DETAIL Engineering, 2021.

GRADUATION: CONGRATS CLASS OF 2021 AND IN PARTICULAR JESSICA FLORES!

It has been a challenging year in so many ways and yet the class of 2021 has risen up to all these challenges. Congrats to this resilient and great class! In particular to my advisee, Jessica Flores for obtaining her Master of Science in Engineering. Jessica has pushed the limits of what we know about the mechanics of curved crease origami! Ave et Vale!

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: A new finite element level set reinitialization method based on the shifted boundary method

T. Xue, W. Ching Sun, S. Adriaenssens, Y. Weic, C. Liuc, 'An interface-preserving level set reinitialization method based on the shifted boundary method', Journal of Computational Physics, Publication Date: APRIL 16 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104459

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Numerical modeling of static equilibria and bifurcations in bigons and bigon rings

Lace patterns in a 19th century book by the German architect Gottfried Semper, led to the discovery of a novel multi-stable, reconfigurable structures, suitable for soft robotics and wearable technology and a new computational approach to understand their mechanical behavior. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2021.104459