Funicular shell form finding

Graphic statics is a traditional visual analysis method used for centuries to analyse structures and design some of the most elegant and impressive buildings and monuments in human history.

In this session, our expert panel from Block Research Group will introduce Thrust Network Analysis (TNA) and RhinoVAULT 2 - extensions of graphic statics for form finding of funicular shell structures.
 

Reasons to watch

• Learn the essentials of Thrust Network Analysis (TNA)

• Gain an understanding of RhinoVAULT 2 - a computational implementation of TNA

• Understand how to use RhinoVAULT 2 to design and analyse funicular shell structures

Intended for

• Engineers with active roles in the conceptual design of structures - particularly shell structures, membrane structures, long span structures and trusses 

• Conservation engineers assessing equilibrium and stability of masonry structures

• Engineers looking to use graphic statics to design efficient, material-saving structures

• Structural engineering students

Pre-requisites

We recommend viewing the third webinar in this series beforehand. You can purchase this as a single webinar, or purchase the series of five webinars and receive a series discount here. To book single webinars please visit the links in the list below.
 

About the series

This webinar is part four of a five-part series on graphic statics. 

1. Graphic statics: structural design and analysis through geometry 

2. Graphical analysis of frames and trusses 

3. Computational graphical analysis of 2D structures 

4. Funicular shell form finding 

5. Advanced computational graphic statics 

Speakers

Philippe Block is Professor at the Institute of Technology in Architecture at ETH Zurich, where he co-directs the Block Research Group (BRG). Research at the BRG focuses on computational form finding, optimisation and construction of curved surface structures, specialising in unreinforced masonry vaults and concrete shells. BRG researchers develop innovative structurally informed bespoke prefabrication strategies and novel construction paradigms employing digital fabrication.

Juney Lee is a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at the Block Research Group of ETH Zurich. He has Master of Architecture and Master of Structural Engineering degrees from MIT, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley. His research interests include graphic statics, computational geometry, algorithmic design and geometry-based structural form-finding methods and sustainable materials and construction.