Understanding novel structures through form-finding

Society expects civil engineers to continue to produce exciting and innovative structures, particularly for landmark buildings and bridges. However, recent high-profile failures call for a review of commonly used design methodologies. Current engineering design practice tends to replace knowledge of mechanics by codes of practice and physical modelling by computer-based calculations.This paper suggests that ‘form-finding’, a combined physical and mathematical modelling technique used to develop tension and shell structures, should also be applied where innovative designs are envisaged.