Gennaro Senatore

EPFL ENAC IIC IMAC
GC G1 517 (Bâtiment GC)
Station 18
CH-1015 Lausanne
Web site: Web site: https://imac.epfl.ch/
Fields of expertise
Design of Adaptive Structures
Active Structural Control
Computational Geometry
Structural Optimization
Algorithmic Modelling
Biography
EngD MRes MSc MEng (Hons)
I am a scientist and engineer specialized in computational structural mechanics, structural optimization and form-finding. My expertise includes computer-aided design, algorithmic modelling and generative design. I am currently a postdoctoral scientist at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL). I previously worked as a postdoctoral scientist at University College London and as the Head of computational design & research at London based practice Expedition Engineering.
I developed new integrated design and control methods for smart structures that counteract the effect of loads actively through sensing and actuation. The Adaptive Structures produced by this method have a low environmental impact, they can be extremely slender and at the same time deflections can be controlled within tights limits. This is particularly beneficial to stiffness governed designs including high-rise buildings, self-supporting roof systems and bridges. These methods have been successfully tested experimentally validating key assumptions and numerical predictions. My work on adaptive structures has been exhibited internationally.
I also developed an interactive physics engine software to aid teaching in structural mechanics and structural design. The model, a vector-form finite element method which combines dynamic relaxation with the co-rotational formulation, can simulate structures with non-linear geometric behavior and perform shape optimization in real-time. The software, called PushMePullMe, has been adopted worldwide.
I hold an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) from University College London. Previously, I was awarded with distinction an MSc in Computing and Design at the School of Architecture, Computing and Civil Engineering of University of East London in 2009 and an MSc in Emergent Technologies at the Architectural Association (London, UK) in 2008. I graduated in mechanical engineering MEng (Hons) at Federico II University (Naples, Italy) in 2006.
Publications
Infoscience publications
Infoscience
2020
Journal Articles
[1] Vibration Suppression Through Variable Stiffness and Damping Structural Joints
Frontiers in Built Environment
2020-10-30
Vol. 6, p. 1-22, 550864.DOI : 10.3389/fbuil.2020.550864
[2] Minimum energy adaptive structures – All-In-One problem formulation
Computers & Structures
2020-08-01
Vol. 236, p. 106266.DOI : 10.1016/j.compstruc.2020.106266
[3] Force and Shape Control Strategies for Minimum Energy Adaptive Structures
Frontiers in Built Environment
2020-07-22
Vol. 6.DOI : 10.3389/fbuil.2020.00105
[4] Optimum design of frame structures from a stock of reclaimed elements
Frontiers in Built Environment
2020-05-27
Vol. 6, num. 57, p. 1-18.DOI : 10.3389/fbuil.2020.00057
[5] Extended Integrated Force Method for the analysis of prestress-stable statically and kinematically indeterminate structures
International Journal of Solids and Structures
2020
DOI : 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2020.05.029
[6] Environmental impact minimization of reticular structures made of reused and new elements through Life Cycle Assessment and Mixed-Integer Linear Programming
Energy and Buildings
2020
Vol. 215, p. 109827.DOI : 10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.109827
[7] A proof of equivalence of two force methods for active structural control
Mechanics Research Communications
2020
DOI : 10.1016/j.mechrescom.2019.103465
[8] Design of structures that adapt to loads through large shape changes
The Journal of Structural Engineering (ASCE)
2020
Vol. 146, num. 5.DOI : 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002604
Theses
[9] Shape changes through geometric nonlinear control as a strategy for structural adaptation
Lausanne, EPFL, 2020.DOI : 10.5075/epfl-thesis-8270.
Student Projects
[10] Interactive Real-time Structural Modelling - Solids
2020-01-232019
Journal Articles
[11] Design and characterization of variable stiffness structural joints
Materials & Design
2019-11-18
p. 108353.DOI : 10.1016/j.matdes.2019.108353
[12] Synthesis of minimum energy adaptive structures
Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
2019-03-28
Vol. 60, num. 3, p. 849-877.DOI : 10.1007/s00158-019-02224-8
[13] Structural Adaptation through Stiffness Tuning
Spool
2019
Vol. 6, num. 1, p. 43-48.DOI : 10.7480/SPOOL.2019.1.3892
[14] Form follows availability - Designing structures through reuse
Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures
2019
Vol. 60, num. 4, p. 257-265.DOI : 10.20898/j.iass.2019.202.033
[15] Experimental Testing of a Small-Scale Truss Beam That Adapts to Loads Through Large Shape Changes
Frontiers in Built Environment
2019
Vol. 5.DOI : 10.3389/fbuil.2019.00093
[16] Design of Truss Structures Through Reuse
Structures
2019
Vol. 18, p. 128-137.DOI : 10.1016/j.istruc.2018.11.006
Conference Papers
[17] Form follows availability – Designing structures through reuse
Form and Force. 2019-10-07. 60th-Anniversary Symposium of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures , Barcelona , October 7-10, 2019. p. 2941-2949.[18] Characterization of variable stiffness joints for adaptive structures
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation (SEMC 2019). 2019-08-21. Advances in Engineering Materials, Structures and Systems: Innovations, Mechanics and Applications , Cape Town, South Africa , September 2-4, 2019.[19] Structures that adapt to loads through large shape changes: design and optimization
Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation (SEMC 2019). 2019-08-21. Advances in Engineering Materials, Structures and Systems: Innovations, Mechanics and Applications , Cape Town , September 2-4, 2019.[20] Exploration of spatial structures made from reused elements and the design of optimal kits-of-parts
Structures and Architecture. 2019-07-24. International Conference on Structures and Architecture , Lisbon, Portugal , July 24-26, 2019. p. 221-228.DOI : 10.1201/9781315229126-27.
[21] Experimental testing of a small-scale truss beam that adapts to loads through large shape changes
Proceedings of ECCOMAS SMART 2019. 2019. The 9th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Smart Structures and Materials , Paris, France , July 8-11, 2019.Talks
[22] Minimum Energy Adaptive Structures – All-In-One Problem Implementation
IASS Symposium 2019 & Structural Membranes 2019 - Form and Force, Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 October 2019.[23] Design and Control of Minimum Energy Adaptive Structures
The XXIV AIMETA Conference (Italian Association of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics), Rome, Italy, 15-19 September 2019.[24] Synthesis and Testing of Minimum Energy Adaptive Structures
Multiscale Innovative Materials and Structures (MIMS), Salerno, Italy, February 28 - March 02, 2019.[25] Optimum Frame Design with Reused Stock Elements
International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures - IASS 2019: Form and Force, Barcelona, Spain, 7-10 October 2019.2018
Journal Articles
[26] Energy and Cost Assessment of Adaptive Structures: Case Studies
Journal of Structural Engineering
2018-08-01
Vol. 144, num. 8, p. 04018107.DOI : 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002075
[27] Exploring the application domain of adaptive structures
Engineering Structures
2018-07-15
Vol. 167, p. 608-628.DOI : 10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.03.057
[28] Shape control and whole-life energy assessment of an ‘infinitely stiff’ prototype adaptive structure
Smart Materials and Structures
2018
Vol. 27, num. 1, p. 015022.DOI : 10.1088/1361-665X/aa8cb8
Conference Papers
[29] A vibration control strategy using variable stiffness joints
2018-07-16. International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures , Boston, Massachusetts, USA , 16-20, 2018.[30] Optimum Truss Design with Reused Stock Elements
Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2018, Creativity in Structural Design. 2018-07-16. IASS Symposium 2018 , MIT, Boston, Massachusetts, USA , July 16-20, 2018.[31] A new method to design structures that adapt to loads via large shape changes
Proceedings of the IASS Symposium 2018. 2018. International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, Creativity in Structural Design , Boston, Massachusetts, USA , July 16-20, 2018.[32] Actuator Layout Optimization for Adaptive Structures Performing Large Shape Changes, Advanced Computing Strategies for Engineering
Lecture Notes in Computer Science. 2018. p. 111-129.DOI : 10.1007/978-3-319-91638-5_6.
[33] Optimization Formulations for the Design of Low Embodied Energy Structures Made from Reused Elements
Advanced Computing Strategies for Engineering. 2018. 25th EG-ICE International Workshop 2018 , Lausanne, Switzerland , June 10-13, 2018. p. Chapter 8.DOI : 10.1007/978-3-319-91635-4_8.
Book Chapters
[34] Designing and Prototyping Adaptive Structures—An Energy-Based Approach Beyond Lightweight Design, Robotic Building
Robotic Building; Springer,2018.
p. 169-189. - 978-3-319-70866-9.DOI : 10.1007/978-3-319-70866-9_8.
Posters
[35] Reuse in Architecture & Structural Design
Research Culture in Architecture, FATUK, Faculty of Architecture TU Kaiserslautern, Germany, September 27-28, 2018.Talks
[36] Design and Control of Adaptive Civil Structures: towards an Energy Approach to Structural Engineering
Henderson Lecture, Cambridge University, July 2-4, 2018.2017
Conference Papers
[37] The Use of Variable Stiffness Joints in Adaptive Structures
2017. IASS 2017 , Hamburg .[38] Large and reversible shape changes as a strategy for structural adaptation
2017. IASS 2017 , Hamburg , 2017.2015
Journal Articles
[39] Interactive real-time physics: An intuitive approach to form-finding and structural analysis for design and education
Computer-Aided Design
2015-04-01
Vol. 61, p. 32-41.DOI : 10.1016/j.cad.2014.02.007
2013
Conference Papers
[40] Designing adaptive structures for whole life energy savings, Research and Applications in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation
Research and Applications in Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation. 2013-09. The Fifth International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation , Cape Town , September, 2013. p. 2105-2110.DOI : 10.1201/b15963-380.
2011
Journal Articles
[41] Adaptive Structures for Whole Life Energy Savings
Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures
2011-12-01
Vol. 52(170), num. 4, p. 233-240.Teaching & PhD
PhD Programs
Qinyu Wang
Chair of Innovative Structural Design, Department of Built Environment Eindhoven University of Technology, https://research.tue.nl/en/persons/qinyu-wang
MSc Students
Vincent Lestang (EPFL)
Xavier Choitel (EPFL)
Julien Lebet (EPFL)