Assembly-aware Design of Masonry Shell Structures - A Computational Approach

This research proposes an idea using minimal amount of formwork during the assembling process when designing and building freeform shell structures out of masonry. The aim is to investigate an approach to generate a discrete element assembly through computational methods. Therefore, to determine suitable tessellation and block shapes, a real-time physics simulation will be assigned to determine whether or not the units remain static during the assembling process. Since these parameters are highly complex and influenced by each other, an effective solution can be found through adaptive and genetic algorithm. As guidance, a digital pipeline shall be created to assist in the process from design all the way to the construction of the freeform masonry shell structure.

ITECH M.Sc. Thesis Project 2016: Assembly-aware Design of Masonry Shell Structures - A Computational Approach
Gene Ting-Chun Kao

Thesis Advisers: Daniel Sonntag, Long Nguyen, Axel Körner

Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Jan Knippers
Second Supervisor: Prof. Achim Menges