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News from the Group
11/16/2024
New Research published in Journal of Building Engineering
M.Eng. Thesis research by Camp Seats is out in Journal of Building Engineering. In this work, we present an automated stock-constrained design algorithm for planar trusses that uses graphic statics as the backbone of the algorithm and show a design case where carbon savings as high as 83%–90% are possible compared to conventionally designed trusses made from recycled steel.
9/4/2024
New Research published in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization​
Research by PhD Candidates Dat Ha is now published in Journal of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization​. When designing with topology optimization, the human user spends significant time manually selecting and tuning algorithmic hyperparameters to achieve an acceptable design. Drawing inspiration from hyperparameter optimization in machine learning, this paper presents a new approach that speeds up the design time by automating the tuning process. We show that for a simple design case, the new framework reduces the number of times a topology optimization algorithm is executed by 90% without sacrificing the structural performance.
7/23/2024
New Research published in Journal of Building Engineering
M.Eng. Thesis research by Maggie Smith is out in Journal of Building Engineering. Through a survey of structural engineers primarily in the northeast US, we identified the primary barriers to embodied carbon reduction, in particular barriers to the use of tools like parametric design and optimization, and opportunities to overcome these barriers. The formalization of these barriers is key to understanding what changes need to be made, both in industry and academia, to enable further reductions in the embodied carbon emissions of construction.
6/6/2024
New Research published in Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Research on interactive infill topology optimization by graduate student Gillian Schiffer is out in Virtual and Physical Prototyping. The human user can now provide user-drawn infill patterns to improve complex performance requirements such as buckling, energy absorption, and manufacturability. Find an implementation with GUI on our group's GitHub.
5/17/2024
Carstensen Group members receive several awards at MIT CEE Awards Ceremony
Several members of the Carstensen group received awards at this year's MIT CEE Awards Ceremony. Undergraduate student Christine Tang received the Juan Hermosilla (1957) Prize, Ph.D. Candidate Jackson Jewett was recognized with the Maseeh Annual Award for Excellence as a Teaching Assistant, and Prof. Carstensen received the Ole Madsen Mentoring Award.
5/3/2024
Graduate student Zane Schemmer joins the MIT MAD Fellows 2024 Cohort
Carstensen Group graduate student Zane Schemmer selected to join the MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD) Fellowship Cohort for 2024. MIT MAD's Design Fellows tackle global challenges to create a more equitable future for all. Pulling from different corners of design, they explore solutions in fields such as sustainability, health, mobility, urban planning, social justice, or education.
4/12/2024
Prof. Carstensen to give Keynote at Symposium of Geometry Processing
Prof. Josephine Carstensen will join Symposium for Geometry Processing (SGP) '24 at MIT as a keynote speaker. SGP is the premier venue for disseminating new research ideas and cutting-edge results in geometry processing. In this research area, concepts from mathematics, computer science, and engineering are studied and applied to offer new insights and design efficient algorithms for acquisition, modeling, analysis, manipulation, simulation and other types of processing of 3D models and shape collections.
1/15/2024
New Research published in Journal of Building Engineering
M.Eng. Thesis research by Albertine Van Marcke on automated truss design with reclaimed partially disassembled components now published. Reusing steel structural components has the potential to reduce the carbon ompact of construction. It does, however, require an increased length of the demolition process and dramatically changes the structural design task.To alleviate these concerns, this work presents a new stock-constrained design and optimization framework for designing planar truss structures from a stock library of partially disassembled trusses.
10/19/2023
New Research published in Virtual and Physical Prototyping
The new version of HiTop by graduate student Gillian Schiffer is out in Virtual and Physical Prototyping. The human user can now interactively implement multiple feature size controls to reduce stress concentrations and improve eigenvalues, and energy absorption. Find an implementation with GUI on our group's GitHub.
9/18/2023
New Research published in Computers and Structures
New research published on a topology optimization framework that considers the opportunities and constraints associated with extrusion-based AM. By capturing both the discrete nozzle size and the weakness of adjacent bead bonds, the framework simultaneously optimizes the structure and gives a trace for the print path.
2/27/2023
Hajin Kim-Tackowiak and Jackson Jewett wins the 2nd Annual Lab Competition
Graduate students Hajin Kim-Tackowiak and Jackson Jewett win the 2nd annual Carstensen Group competition with their topology-optimized designs of office gadgets. Hajin had designed a PLA topology-optimized laptop stand and Jackson a concrete picture frame. Other entries included a phone and pen holder (Gillian Schiffer), a name sign holder (Zane Schemmer), and a picture frame (Albertine Van Marcke).
5/18/2022
Grace Harrington wins The Juan Hermosilla (1957) Prize
Undergrad research student Grace Harrington wins the The Juan Hermosilla (1957) Prize. This prize will recognize a student in MIT's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering who exemplifies exceptional talent and potential for future contributions at the intersection of mechanics, materials, structures, and design.
5/6/2022
Prof. Carstensen gives Invited Talk at NEW.MECH
NEW.Mech is a one-day workshop that aims to bring together the New England Mechanics community with an interest in exploring new research directions in the mechanics of materials and structures, and provides an opportunity to share the latest advancements in the field.
3/3/2022
Grace Harrington wins the 1st Annual Lab Competition
Undergrad research student Grace Harrington wins the 1st annual Carstensen Group competition with her design of a topology-optimized knife. Other entries included a bowl (Hajin Kim), chop stick holders (Dat Ha), and a bottle opener (Jackson Jewett).
11/8/2021
Prof. Carstensen joins the editorial team of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization is one of the top international peer-reviewed journals on structural optimation and covers topics at the converging frontier of design, engineering, simulation, additive manufacturing, AI and digital-twins. Prof. Carstensen joins the editorial team as Review Editor.
22/7/2021
Prof. Carstensen to serve as host for the 14th TOP Webinar
The TOP Webinar is a continuing series of webinars, serving the broad structural and multidisciplinary optimization community, with a focus on topology optimization. The intention is to share the latest research and development in this field, and by doing so, to keep our community connected. TOP Webinar is endorsed by the International Society for Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO).
22/6/2021
Prof. Carstensen to serve as Area Chair for ACM SCF'21
The 6th annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication will gather experts and enthusiasts from many areas of academia and industry, in order to explore the use of computational tools for the creation of physical things. SCF provides a venue for participants to discuss cutting-edge results, cross-pollinate ideas, and strengthen interdisciplinary connections and collaborations.
6/21/2021
Carstensen Group presents at WCSMO-14
Graduate Students Hajin Kim and Jackson Jewett, and recent graduate Claire Holley present their latest work at the 14th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (WCSMO-14).
Prof. Carstensen gives State-of-the-Art Talk on "Topology Optimization: Methodologies and Applications".
3/11/2021
Josephine Carstensen receives NSF CAREER award
Assistant Prof. Josephine Carstensen received the 2021 National Science Foundation CAREER award for her research on “Integrated Design and Digital Fabrication using Topology Optimization and Material Extrusion 3D Printing.”
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