Shell Structures for Architecture

338 Pages·2014·36.57 MB·English

Shell Structures for Architecture
Bringing together experts from research and practice, Shell Structures for Architecture: Form Finding and
Optimization presents contemporary design methods for shell and gridshell structures, covering form-finding
and structural optimization techniques. It introduces architecture and engineering practitioners and students to
structural shells and provides computational techniques to develop complex curved structural surfaces, in the
form of mathematics, computer algorithms, and design case studies.
(cid:82)(cid:53) Part I introduces the topic of shells, tracing the ancient relationship between structural form and forces, the
basics of shell behaviour, and the evolution of form-finding and structural optimization techniques.
(cid:82)(cid:53) Part II familiarizes the reader with form-finding techniques to explore expressive structural geometries,
covering the force density method, thrust network analysis, dynamic relaxation and particle-spring systems.
(cid:82)(cid:53) Part III focuses on shell shape and topology optimization, and provides a deeper understanding of gradient-
based methods and meta-heuristic techniques.
(cid:82)(cid:53) Part IV contains precedent studies of realised shells and gridshells describing their innovative design and
construction methods.
Sigrid Adriaenssens is a structural engineer and Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering at Princeton University, USA, where she directs the Form Finding Lab. She holds
a PhD in lightweight structures from the University of Bath, adapting the method of dynamic relaxation to
strained gridshells. She worked as a project engineer for Jane Wernick Associates, London, and Ney + Partners,
Brussels, on projects such as the Dutch National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. At Princeton, she co-curated
the exhibition ‘German Shells: Efficiency in Form’ which examined a number of landmark German shell projects.
Philippe Block is a structural engineer and architect and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Technology in
Architecture, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where he directs the BLOCK Research Group, and is founding partner
of structural engineering consultancy Ochsendorf, DeJong & Block LLC. He studied at the VUB, Belgium,
and MIT, USA, where he obtained his PhD. He has received the Hangai Prize and Tsuboi Award from the
International Association of Shells and Spatial Structures (IASS) as well as the Edoardo Benvenuto Prize. He
developed thrust network analysis for the analysis of historic vaulted masonry and design of new funicular shells.
Diederik Veenendaal is a civil engineer and a research assistant at the BLOCK Research Group, ETH Zurich,
Switzerland. He received his Masters from TU Delft, Netherlands and started his career at Witteveen+Bos
engineering consultants, working on groundfreezing analysis for the downtown stations of the Amsterdam
North/South subway line and the structural design for the largest tensioned membrane roof in the Netherlands,
the ice skating arena De Scheg. His current research involves the comparison of existing form-finding methods
and development of new ones for flexibly formed shells and other structural systems.
Chris Williams is a structural engineer and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bath, UK. He specializes
in computational geometry and structural mechanics, in particular for lightweight structures and tall buildings,
and his work has been applied by architects and engineers, including Foster + Partners, Rogers Stirk Harbour
+ Partners and Buro Happold. He worked at Ove Arup and Partners, where he was responsible for structural
analysis of the Mannheim Multihalle. Since then, he has worked on such projects as the British Museum Great
Court roof, Weald & Downland Museum gridshell, and the Savill Gardens gridshell.
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Shell Structures
for Architecture
Form Finding and Optimization
Edited by Sigrid Adriaenssens, Philippe Block,
Diederik Veenendaal and Chris Williams
First published 2014
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 selection and editorial material, Sigrid Adriaenssens, Philippe Block, Diederik Veenendaal and
Chris Williams; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for
their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying
and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used
only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Every effort has been made to contact and acknowledge copyright owners. If any material has been
included without permission, the publishers offer their apologies. The publishers would be pleased to
have any errors or omissions brought to their attention so that corrections may be published at later
printing.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Shell structures for architecture : form finding and optimization / [compiled by] Sigrid Adriaenssens,
Philippe Block, Diederik Veenendaal, and Chris Williams.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Shells (Engineering) 2. Structural optimization. 3. Architecture. 4. Shapes. I. Adriaenssens, Sigrid,
1973- II. Block, Philippe. III. Veenendaal, Diederik. IV. Williams, Chris (Chris J. K.)
TA660.S5S484 2014
624.1'7762--dc23
2013028638
ISBN: 978-0-415-84059-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-84060-6 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-84927-0 (ebk)
Typeset in Adobe Caslon by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NN
Illustrations edited by Madeleine Kindermann and Diederik Veenendaal.
The editor(s), author(s) and publisher of this book have used their best efforts in preparing the material in this book. These efforts include
the development, research, and testing of the theories and computer methods to determine their effectiveness. The editor(s), author(s) and
publisher make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to these methods explained, or the documentation contained
in this book. The editor(s), author(s) and publisher shall not be liable in any event for any damages, including incidental or consequential
damages, lost profits, or otherwise in connection with or arising out of the furnishing, performance, or use of any text and the methods
explained in this book.
Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Forewords
On architects and engineers viii
Jörg Schlaich
Sharing the same spirit xii
Shigeru Ban
Introduction 1
Part I Shells for architecture 5
1 Exploring shell forms 7
John Ochsendorf and Philippe Block
2 Shaping forces 15
Laurent Ney and Sigrid Adriaenssens
3 What is a shell? 21
Chris Williams
4 Physical modelling and form finding 33
Bill Addis
5 Computational form finding and optimization 45
Kai-Uwe Bletzinger and Ekkehard Ramm
Part II Form finding 57
6 Force density method: design of a timber shell 59
Klaus Linkwitz
7 Thrust network analysis: design of a cut-stone masonry vault 71
Philippe Block, Lorenz Lachauer and Matthias Rippmann
8 Dynamic relaxation: design of a strained timber gridshell 89
Sigrid Adriaenssens, Mike Barnes, Richard Harris and Chris Williams
9 Particle-spring systems: design of a cantilevering concrete shell 103
Shajay Bhooshan, Diederik Veenendaal and Philippe Block
10 Comparison of form-finding methods 115
Diederik Veenendaal and Philippe Block
11 Steering of form 131
Axel Kilian
VI CONTENTS
Part III Structural optimization 141
12 Nonlinear force density method: constraints on force and geometry 143
Klaus Linkwitz and Diederik Veenendaal
13 Best-fit thrust network analysis: rationalization of freeform meshes 157
Tom Van Mele, Daniele Panozzo, Olga Sorkine-Hornung and Philippe Block
14 Discrete topology optimization: connectivity for gridshells 171
James N. Richardson, Sigrid Adriaenssens, Rajan Filomeno Coelho and Philippe Bouillard
15 Multi-criteria gridshell optimization: structural lattices on freeform surfaces 181
Peter Winslow
16 Eigenshells: structural patterns on modal forms 195
Panagiotis Michalatos and Sawako Kaijima
17 Homogenization method: distribution of material densities 211
Irmgard Lochner-Aldinger and Axel Schumacher
18 Computational morphogenesis: design of freeform surfaces 225
Alberto Pugnale, Tomás Méndez Echenagucia and Mario Sassone
Part IV Precedents 237
19 The Multihalle and the British Museum: a comparison of two gridshells 239
Chris Williams
20 Félix Candela and Heinz Isler: a comparison of two structural artists 247
Maria E. Moreyra Garlock and David P. Billington
21 Structural design of free-curved RC shells: an overview of built works 259
Mutsuro Sasaki
Conclusion
The congeniality of architecture and engineering – the future potential and relevance of shell
structures in architecture 271
Patrik Schumacher
Appendices
Appendix A: The finite element method in a nutshell 274
Chris Williams
Appendix B: Differential geometry and shell theory 281
Chris Williams
Appendix C: Genetic algorithms for structural design 290
Rajan Filomeno Coelho, Tomás Méndez Echenagucia, Alberto Pugnale and James N. Richardson
Appendix D: Subdivision surfaces 295
Paul Shepherd
Bibliography 299
List of contributors 304
List of credits 309
List of projects 311
Index 317
Acknowledgements
The editors would like to express their gratitude to the of the book project. We wish to acknowledge the
following people and institutions. Without their help supportive team at Routledge Architecture, Taylor &
it would not have been possible to realize this book in Francis: Francesca Ford, commissioning editor; Laura
its current form. Williamson and Emma Gadsden, senior editorial
First of all, we are grateful to our independent assistants for architecture books; Alanna Donaldson,
reviewers, Jack Bakker, Daniel Piker and Samar Malek, senior production editor; Janice Baiton, copy-editor;
for their helpful comments during the final revisions and Christine James, proofreader.
of the manuscript. Specific parts of the book were also The matter of whether or not Antoni Gaudí used
proofread, for which we would like to acknowledge hanging models to design the Sagrada Família was
Hannah Bands, Victor Charpentier, Allison Halpern, settled with the help of Rainer Graefe, Santiago
Matthew Horner, Alex Jordan, Lorenz Lachauer, Luca Huerta and Joseph Tomlow, who independently
Nagy, Renato Perucchio, Daniel Reynolds, Landolf confirmed that this hypothesis is unsubstantiated and
Rhode-Barbarigos, Edward Segal, Matthew Streeter, unlikely.
Peter Szerzo and Mariam Wahed. We are especially indebted to the authors for
Copyright permissions for specific figures were their excellent contributions, and their patience
obtained with the help of Gianni Birindelli, Claudia during the editorial process: Bill Addis, Shigeru
Ernst, Ines Groschupp, Lothar Gründig, Helmut Ban, Mike Barnes, Shajay Bhooshan, David P.
Hornik, Toni Kotnik, Gabriela Metzger, Matthias Billington, Kai-Uwe Bletzinger, Philippe Bouillard,
Rippmann and Hans-Jörg Schek. We thank Rafael Rajan Filomeno Coelho, Maria E. Moreyra Garlock,
Astudillo Pastor, René Motro, Sergio Pellegrino Richard Harris, Sawako Kaijima, Axel Kilian, Lorenz
and John Abel of the International Association of Lachauer, Klaus Linkwitz, Irmgard Lochner-
Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) for granting Aldinger, Tomás Méndez Echenagucia, Panagiotis
copyright permission for the use of several publica- Michalatos, Laurent Ney, John Ochsendorf, Daniele
tions (Bletzinger, 2011; Ramm, 2004), which were Panozzo, Alberto Pugnale, Ekkehard Ramm, James
partially reproduced in Chapter 5. N. Richardson, Matthias Rippmann, Mutsuro Sasaki,
Several people assisted in the editorial process, Mario Sassone, Jörg Schlaich, Axel Schumacher,
whom we would like to thank: Masoud Akbarzadeh for Patrik Schumacher, Paul Shepherd, Olga Sorkine-
his help in draughting the first manuscript; Madeleine Hornung, Tom Van Mele and Peter Winslow. We
Kindermann, Lucas Uhlmann and Ramon Weber would also thank their respective companies and
for creating and adapting illustrations; Yuki Otsubo, institutions for allowing them the time to contribute
Ryuichi Watanabe and Meghan Krupka for translating to our publication and providing environments in
the chapter submitted by Mutsuro Sasaki; Shajay which they were able to develop their invaluable
Bhooshan, Yoshiyuki Hiraiwa, Monika Jocher, Guy knowledge and expertise.
Nordenson, Junko Sakuta and Katrien Vandermarliere Finally, we would like to thank our friends and
for supporting our correspondence and communi- families for supporting us during the writing and
cation with particular authors; and Astrid Smitham for editing of this book, and in particular Felix, Hannah,
providing editorial assistance during the first months Julia, Madeleine, Paul, Pieter and Regine.
FOREWORD
On architects and engineers
Jörg Schlaich
There is still a widespread misunderstanding concerning If well formed, there are no bending but membrane
the role of architects and structural engineers: it is forces only (axial compression and tension) in a
said that architects are the designers of a building shell, permitting its thickness to be around 80mm
from concept to detail, whereas the engineers (only) for reinforced or prestressed concrete, even down
care for its stability. In fact, it is its function which to 12mm for fibre reinforced concrete (Fig. 0.1).
clearly attributes a building to either an architect or Though these concrete shells initially do not leave
an engineer only, or to both: to an architect only if much space for an architect (or even for the fantasy
it is multifunctional in a social context – typically a of an engineer), it is fortunately not unusual that the
family house where no engineer is needed – and to an two collaborate fruitfully or that an engineer himself
engineer only if it serves a singular structural purpose has the courage and imagination to go beyond strict
– typically built infrastructure such as a bridge where logic.
no architect is needed. A high-rise building typically So Pier Luigi Nervi’s Palazzetto dello Sport in Rome
needs both, an architect and an engineer. would have fulfilled its purpose at considerably lower
The more the form of a building or structure cost with a tensile ring on vertical supports instead of
develops from its flow of forces, the more it is under the inclined Y-shaped columns as built, but it would
the responsibility of the engineer. have looked like a boring and ugly tank (Fig. 0.2). Only
Especially due to the fact that most infrastructure, a creative engineer could have made such a proposal
such as towers, power plants, long-span roofs and as built!
bridges, is large and long-lasting, a responsible In case of the large hypar roof for the Hamburg
engineer will seek the advice of an architect or a Alster-Schwimmhalle, the architect insisted that the
landscape designer when deciding on the material or edge beams should be free cantilevering beyond the
the scale of their bridge or sports hall in an urban or facade. This caused vivid discussions, because according
natural environment. to the classical shell literature a hypar shell cannot
transfer shear forces from edge beams but needs direct
It is only culture that can convert our built support as evident from the wonderful Candela shells
environment into civilization. (Fig. 0.3).
But the architect insisted and thus made us find a
Shells play a special, singular role for engineers. Their revolutionary though very simple solution by super-
shape directly derives from their flow of forces, and imposing the classical saddle surface for the surface
defines their load-bearing behaviour and lightness, loads with the straight line generators’ surface for
saving material by creating local employment, their edge loads (Fig. 0.4). The result was a perfect structure
social aspect. This is especially true for thin concrete thanks to the insisting architect.
shells with their characteristic curvatures: single During the last decades concrete shells lost more
curvature (cylindrical and conical), synclastic (dome- ground to: 1) cable nets; 2) textile membranes; and
like), anticlastic (saddle-like) or free (experimental). 3) steel grids. In terms of their load bearing, these
FOREWORD: ON ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS IX
Figure 0.2 Palazzetto dello Sport by Pier Luigi Nervi, Rome,
1958
Figure 0.1 Bundesgartenschau Pavilion, with a 12mm fibre Figure 0.3 Hypar shell with direct edge beam supports for the
reinforced concrete shell, Stuttgart, 1977 Church of San José Obrero by Félix Candela, Monterey, 1959
can also be considered as shells. Let us discuss one they instead brought in an idea which was absolutely
example for each of them. convincing, to bring together under one continuous and
floating roof all sports facilities: the stadium, the sport
hall, the swimming hall, and all transitions connecting
Cable nets
them (Fig. 0.5). This is exactly what we engineers
In 1967, the international competition for the sport expect from our architect if structure plays a significant
fields of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich was won role: an idea, a concept, a proposal, but leaving the
by architects Behnisch+Partners from Stuttgart, even structural solution to us. Together with Frei Otto and
though they hardly fulfilled the requirements. In fact, Fritz Auer from Behnisch+Partners, we developed a