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

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.

PRESENTATION: EXTREME STRUCTURES

I am delighted to present our research at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on Wednesday 13th February 2020.

PUBLICATION: Effect of Gravity on the Scale of Compliant Shells

We are delighted with the publication of our latest paper on the scales of compliant shells. Free Access - V. Charpentier, S. Adriaenssens, “Physical limits of large displacements in the scaling of thin shells”, Biomimetics doi: 10.3390/biomimetics5010004

SHOW: EXTRAORDINARY PROCESSES – EXTRAORDINARY BEDS

Our students in VIS and CEE 418 are showcasing their extraordinary sleeping platforms or "beds" in the Co_Lab at the Princeton Lewis Center for the Arts until February 3rd. If you are around, be puzzled and dazzled by these extraordinary structures!

PRESENTATION: FORM FOLLOWS FORCE – EXTREME STRUCTURES FOR A RESILIENT URBAN ENVIRONMENT

I am delighted to present our newest work on architectural shells and membranes at the Applied Mechanics Colloquium at Harvard University on December 4th.