Form Finding Lab – Princeton University

Welcome

By 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities. Today already 50% live in an urban environment and produce more than 75% of all C0₂ emissions. Finding intelligent and efficient ways to provide for more people with fewer resources will make cities more resilient to manmade and natural disasters and reduce their impact on the environment. Our long-term research goal is to transform the engineering design framework for a future-oriented built urban environment. Our research program addresses the following two core questions: What is the relationship between form and efficiency in civil structures?; and With increasing pressure on the preservation of natural resources, how can design theories and tools match untested sculptural ideas to material-efficient, constructible structures?

Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested in pursuing collaboration.

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

MEDIA: SHAKERS AND MOVERS

I am so honored to be featured in the "Shakers and Movers" interview series. In the spirit of the key theme of ‘Inspiring the next generation,’ this series aims to reach out and encourage young people to enter the field of spatial structures, as well as to motivate everyone involved in this field.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Adjoint optimization of pressurized membrane structures using automatic differentiation tools

Super proud of this publication. A. Niewiarowski, S. Adriaenssens, R. Pauletti ‘Adjoint optimization of pressurized membranes using automatic differentiation tools’, Computer Methods in applied mechanics and engineering, doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2020.113393

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Shape optimization of arches for seismic loading

Proud of our work an the form-finding of arches and optimization. Just published T. Kimura, M. Ohsaki, S. Fujita, T. Michiels, S. Adriaenssens. "Shape optimization of arches for seismic loading", Structures doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.08.053

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: A data-driven computational scheme for the nonlinear mechanical properties of cellular mechanical metamaterials under large deformation

We are delighted to present Open Access our research on how to better model the behavior of mechanical metamaterials using AI.T. Xue, A. Beatson, S. Mao,G. Roeder,J.T. Ash,Y. Menguc, S. Adriaenssens ,R.P. P. Adams,M. Chiaramonte, ‘A data-driven computational scheme for the nonlinear mechanical properties of cellular mechanical metamaterials under large deformation’, Soft Matter (adoi.org/10.10

PRESENTATION: Amortized Finite Element Analysis for Fast PDE-Constrained Optimization

We are delighted that Tianju is presenting his research on FE analysis improved with neural network training at the ICML 2020 | Thirty-seventh International Conference on Machine Learning Xue T., Beatson, A., Adriaenssens, S., Adams R., ‘Amortized Finite Element Analysis for Fast PDE-Constrained Optimization’,

KEYNOTE: A different perspective on shells

I am very grateful that the organizers of the 1st Italian Workshop on Shell and Spatial Structures went on-line and gives us the opportunity to connect and discuss our research in a keynote.

FUNDING: Fabrication-Informed Design: Building Efficient Structures with Cooperative Robotic Fabrication Methods

We have been awarded Dave MacMillan and the Princeton Catalysis Initiative funding to collaborate with Prof. Stefana Parascho, who leads the CREATE lab to integrate robotics and structural design!

MEDIA: The Times “Hi-tech sleuths reveal dome truths”

Our work on the role of the herringbone brick spirals in the construction stability of the Italian Renaissance Domes, like the Duomo in Florence, is featured in a leading article in the Times today!

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Statics of self-balancing masonry domes constructed with a cross herringbone spiraling pattern

Today more than ever, it is important to remember and understand how humans have overcome hard challenges with strength, skill, great courage and intellect. Enjoy this new open access publication. V. Paris, A. Pizzigoni, S. Adriaenssens, “Statics of self-balancing domes constructed with a spiraling cross-herringbone masonry pattern”, Engineering Structures, 215 (2020) 110440.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Occupant-centered optimization framework to evaluate and design new dynamic shading typologies

WIth the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, our publication on how to optimize adaptive shades and save energy while having comfort, came out! V. Charpentier, F. Meggers, S. Adriaenssens, O. Baverel, " Non-deterministic control of external dynamic shades", Plos One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231554.g009

FUNDING: GLOBAL COLLABORATIVE NETWORK AT PRINCETON

We have hope and look forward to working on mechanics and robotics for structural innovation in architecture together with PU colleagues, Industry partners (SOM. Autodesk, Richmond Homes and PU) and colleagues from Roma Tre University, Sao Paulo University ,University of Tokyo, Kyoto University and Naples University Frederico II.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: How and Why Laurent Ney Finds Steel Structural Forms

I am pleased to have my paper entitled "How and Why Laurent Ney Finds Steel Structural Forms" in the next March issue of the Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (Special issue devoted to David Billington). https://doi.org/10.20898/j.iass.2020.203.017

PRESENTATION: GEOMETRY AND TRANSFOMATION IN ANNE TYNG’S WORK

We collaborate with the graphic designer Stephanie Specht and present our thought and work related to the works of Anne Tyng at the 2020 Women in Design and Architecture Symposium on March 6th. "Anne Tyng: Ordered Randomness", School of Architecture, Princeton University

FUNDING: NODES – Net Topology and Dance Exploration Systems

We are thrilled to be awarded the Princeton Dean of Research Innovation Funding for Collaborations between Artists and Engineers. This funding will allow us to continue our inspiring work with the choreographer Rebecca Lazier, visual artist Janet Echelman and the structural engineer Bill Baker.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: A 3-dimensional elastic beam model for form- finding of bending-active gridshells

Y. Sakai, M. Ohsaki, S. Adriaenssens, "A 3-dimensional elastic beam model for form- finding of bending-active gridshells", International Journal of Solids and Structures, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.02.034.

PRESENTATION: Lightweight Structures for a resilient urban environment

I look forward to presenting our work to the grad students in the Structural Engineering Seminar Series on Monday 24th of February, 4-5pm, 1310 Yeh Student Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.