# RhinoVAULT

<figure><img src="https://1589915806-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQADFwk3PIQbaaaJttpUN%2Fuploads%2FPl8Zm4A4yyiCim0tBXFr%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cc7e9dc3-437b-40c2-b310-792391f00f88" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The Rhinoceros® plug-in RhinoVAULT was originally developed by Dr. Matthias Rippmann at the Block Research Group of ETH Zurich. It emerged from research on *Thrust Network Analysis* (TNA) and was intended to facilitate the creation and exploration of compression-only, funicular structures.

Based on TNA, RhinoVAULT provides an intuitive method for funicular form finding, adopting advantages of techniques such as graphic statics, but offering a viable extension to fully three-dimensional problems. The designer can control the many degrees of freedom of highly indeterminate three-dimensional equilibrium systems to explore a variety of structural forms.

Since its release in 2014, RhinoVAULT has been downloaded by more than 30.000 people, it was awarded in the category "Structure / Physics Formation" at ALGODeQ, an international competition for algorithmic design programs, and it has been used to design surprising free-form masonry vaults and shell structures all over the world.

[Link to the original RhinoVAULT page on food4rhino](https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/rhinovault).

<figure><img src="https://1589915806-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQADFwk3PIQbaaaJttpUN%2Fuploads%2FOBO2zFbSUd18TjFYDua6%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=020fde8e-5cf1-45a3-94f4-c79e8a5a179b" alt=""><figcaption><p>RhinoVAULT examples from <a href="https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/handle/20.500.11850/116926">Funicular Shell Design</a> (Rippmann, 2016) </p></figcaption></figure>

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### References

* Rippmann M., Lachauer L. and Block P. [RhinoVAULT - Interactive Vault Design](https://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/publications/414), *International Journal of Space Structures*, 27(4): 219-230, 2012.
* Rippmann, M., & Block, P. (2013). Funicular shell design exploration. In *Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the ACADIA* (Waterloo/Buffalo/Nottingham, Canada).
* Rippmann M. [Funicular Shell Design: Geometric Approaches to Form Finding and Fabrication of Discrete Funicular Structures](https://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/publications/591) , Doctoral dissertation, Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich, 2016.