Full article on selected news on Souhu
Publication: Yuan, P. F., Wang, X., & Wang, X. (2018). Cellular Cavity Structure and its Application on a Long-Span Form-Found Shell Design.
Exhibition: Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2017

Cellular Cavity Structure for Shells with Thin Sheet Materials

Digital Fabrication
Collabrator: Zhi Li, Jiangde Liu, Zhibin Guo, Xu Han, Heyan Xu, Jiaxin Nie, Wei He, Lixing Zhang, Jingwei Zhou, Yuting Lin, Kangning Ge, Shihan Guan, Xuepeng Shi, Xue Bai, Xiaotian Duan
Instructor: Xiang Wang,Philip Yuan
Role: Structural form finding research, prototype design, 50%Diagram drawing, 80%Rendering, Model printing and fabrication
Toolkits: Rhino, Grasshopper, C#
Workshop: DigitalFutures 2017
Year: 2017

We present and develop a novel structure concept in this project by designing and constructing a form-found pavilion. This pavilion, which measures 7m x 6m x 2.5m and is constructed from a 1mm paperboard, demonstrates the validity of the design methodology and technical details in an arbitrary design domain and the potential of thin sheet materials in shell structure designs.

The structural concept is based on the spatial tessellation of shell spaces into groups of cellular cavities, each composed of two curved membranes and circumferential ribs. Despite the materials' thinness, global and local membrane actions can be activated.

A detailed analysis of the pavilion's structural behavior and physical compressive testing of different groups of cellular cavities are provided. The assembly process of the pavilion is also discussed, using a prototype on a full scale.

This pavilion is a successful and efficient example of a paper-shell structure, demonstrating the potential of thin materials for future shell designs and inspiring further exploration of this structural concept.

During Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2017, Shanghai Metro was covered by our project image.