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
Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Princeton University

EXHIBITION: BALANCING ACT

Balancing Act, our exhibition at the AIA Triangle in Rayleigh NC, opens this Monday 31st January 2023! Join me (on-line) for the Robert B. Burns Lecture (Monday 31st at 6.30pm EST) .

PNAS PUBLICATION: Continuous modeling of creased annuli with tunable bistable and looping behaviors

Our most recent PNAS paper! Super proud on this collaboration - for the open access link and the abstract click "Read More".

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: CREATIVE TENSION HOW A CHOREOGRAPHER AND AN ENGINEER INNOVATE TOGETHER

This month's A+U edition focuses on Engineering Art. I am proud as punch to see our work with the choreographer Rebecca Lazier featured in it. Other contributors to the edition include Mike Schlaich and Anne Burghartz, John Ochsendorf, Mark Sarkisian, Bill Baker and Alessandro Beghini, Guy Nordenson, Walter Hood, Walker Downey and Caroline A. Jones, Adam Weinberg

WE MADE IT ON THE COVER OF EXTREME MECHANICS!

Happy Holidays from the Form Finding Lab! Enjoy our Origami Water Bomb Curved Crease Studies on the Cover of this month Extreme Mechanics. Do they do not look a little like ornaments or snowflakes?

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Effect of crease curvature on the bistability of the origami waterbomb base

How to model and tailor Curved Crease Origami? Find out how we did it here. J. Flores, L. Stain-Montalvo, S. Adriaenssens*|, ‘Numerical modeling of the behavior and bistability of curved crease origami waterbomb base structures’, Extreme Mechanics, DOI:10.1016/j.eml.2022.101909

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Learning the nonlinear dynamics of mechanical metamaterials with graph networks

We present a metamaterial graph network. T. Xue, S. Adriaenssens, S. Mao (2022). 'Learning the non-linear dynamics of soft mechanical metamaterials with graph networks'. Journal of Mechanical Sciences, DOI:10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2022.107835

FUNDING: PIIRS Structural Crafts: Developing Vernacular Construction for Sustainable Futures.

We are delighted to deepen and enrich our understanding of Spain-based craft construction using natural locally available materials with this new funding. We look forward to working with Dr. Wesam Al Asali, School of Architecture, IE University.

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Differential Formulation and Numerical Solution for Elastic Arches with Variable Curvature and Tapered Cross-Section

Proud of this collaboration. J. Melchiorre, A. Manuello, F. Marmo, S. Adriaenssens|, G. C. Marano, (2022). ‘Differential Formulation and Numerical Solution for Elastic Arches with Variable Curvature and Tapered Cross-Sections’, European Journal for Mechanics: A/ Solids, DOI: 10.1016/j.euromechsol.2022.104757

JOURNAL PUBLICATION:

S. Kahn, J. A, Vertesi, S. Adriaenssens, M.C. Fixdal, K. Godfrey, J. Lumbroso, K. Wagoner, ‘ The Impact of Online STEM Teaching and Learning During COVID-19 on Underrepresented College Students’ Self-Efficacy and Motivation’, Journal of College Science Teaching

MEDIA: COMPOSERS AND COMPUTERS

In the PU podcast "Dance me to the end" Rebecca Lazier , choreographer and I talk about the creation choreographic works that generate a new understanding of how different net topologies rigidify when loaded and soften when unloaded.

GRADUATION: AVE ET VALE

It is a special time of the year when my advisees graduate from Princeton University. Goodbye and be well: a special shout-out to Tian Yu, Alexander Niewiarowski, Emily Colborne, Ange Ndayishimiye, Krystal Delnoce and Mark Skeptas. Keep on doing superb things!

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ENGINEERING DAY

Celebrating all inspiring women engineers that I have had the good fortune to work with over the years! They innovate, invent and change the world. For example Jane Wernick has had a great influence on me. You can find our conversation here https://formfindinglab.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/interview-with-jane-wernick/

JOURNAL PUBLICATION: Structural rigidity theory applied to the scaffold-free (dis)assembly of space frames using cooperative robotics

How to dismantle a structure without external supports? We figured that out in this paper - Bruun EP, Adriaenssens S, Parascho S. Structural rigidity theory applied to the scaffold-free (dis) assembly of space frames using cooperative robotics. Automation in Construction. 2022 Sep 1;141:104405.

PUBLICATION: shells and gridshells for long-span roofs

Structural Principles-Suitable Spans-Inspiring Works: all those things in the newly published DETAIL Manual of Structural Design. It even includes a chapter on shells and gridshells written by me -)

FPO: Tianju succesfully defends his doctoral work!

Congrats to Tianju for successfully defending his PhD dissertation on "Computational Modeling and Design of Mechanical Metamaterials: A Machine Learning Approach” today 5th January 2022!

NEW 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 mechanics and design of elastic rod network. The research will be conducted under the direction of Professor Sigrid Adriaenssens.