Design with flexible supports
We include foundation and soil deformation in the optimization process, so the chosen material layout responds to the system that will actually carry the load.
São Paulo, Brazil
OTTO Lab
Offshore Technology and Topology Optimization
Polytechnic School · University of São Paulo
We bring soil and structural dynamics into computational design, from optimized foundations to offshore systems.
Led by Renato Picelli
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Our collaboration
What changes when the ground becomes part of the design problem?
An efficient structure depends on how it is supported. With Renato Picelli’s OTTO Lab, we study how deformable foundations and surrounding soil change the shapes produced by topology optimization. Our partnership joins SSI Lab’s models of soil–structure interaction with OTTO’s methods for deciding where material should be placed.
Foundations under changing loads
We investigate how foundation geometry distributes forces and affects motion under static and time-varying excitation.
Offshore design
Our SPRINT partnership with TU Delft connects multiphysics modelling and optimization for structures in offshore applications.
Work in progress
Designing foundations with Kamilla Silva.
We are developing a manuscript with OTTO researcher Kamilla Silva on topology optimization of structural foundations under static and dynamic soil–structure interaction. The work asks how the distribution of foundation material affects load transfer and structural motion when the soil is allowed to deform.
With Kamilla, Aldemar Siqueira and Renato, we presented a related comparison of binary and continuous optimization methods at WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026. The journal manuscript remains in preparation.
Read the public conference abstractWorking across three institutions.
Unicamp · USP · TU Delft
SPRINT: design optimization offshore
Our 2025–2027 FAPESP SPRINT project supports research exchange between Unicamp, USP and TU Delft. With Renato Picelli and Jovana Jovanova, we bring complementary methods in mechanics and design to offshore structures and develop the next stages of this collaboration.
FAPESP project 2025/02487-1WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026 · Munich
Computational Mechanics for Sustainable Development
We jointly organized minisymposium MS079 with Jovana and Renato. It connected computational modelling with questions in renewable energy, vibration mitigation and sustainable infrastructure.
Explore the minisymposiumResearch together
Shared publications
On the influence of soil flexibility in structural topology optimization
Rômulo Cortez, Raghavendra Sivapuram, Pérsio Barros, Josué Labaki and Renato Picelli
International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics
Read the publicationInfluence of foundation flexibility on the topology optimization of piled structures
Iago Cavalcante, Emanuel Tavares, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics
Read the publicationConference papers and abstracts (11)
Topology optimization of structural foundations: a comparative study of binary versus a continuous approach
Kamilla Silva, Aldemar Siqueira, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
WCCM–ECCOMAS 2026 · conference abstract
Read the publication3D structural foundation design for onshore wind turbines via topology optimization
Kamilla Silva, G. V. P. Lapa, Josué Labaki, Alfredo Gay Neto, Emílio C. N. Silva and Renato Picelli
WCCM 2024 · conference abstract
Topology optimization of large-scale structures subjected to time-harmonic loads using sequential integer linear programming
Lucas Mamedes, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
CILAMCE 2024
A topology optimization study of structural foundations considering dynamic loading
Kamilla Silva, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
DINAME 2023
A boundary-finite element coupling framework for topology optimization in unbounded media
Aldemar Siqueira, Pérsio Barros, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
IASS Symposium 2023 · conference abstract
Topology optimization of geotechnical structures considering yield constraints
Aldemar Siqueira, Josué Labaki, Renato Picelli and Xiaodong Huang
Australasian Conference on Computational Mechanics 2023 · extended abstract
An implementation of the TOBS method for topology optimization of large-scale 3D structures
Lucas Mamedes, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
COBEM 2023
Read the publicationTopology optimization of tunnel reinforcements using an IBEM-FEM coupling model
Aldemar Siqueira, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
CONEM 2022
Effect of rigid versus flexible supports on the design of a bridge through topology optimization
Iago Cavalcante, Renato Picelli, Xiaodong Huang and Josué Labaki
MECSOL 2022
Effect of physical and optimization parameters on the topology optimization of foundations and buried structures
Aldemar Siqueira, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
MECSOL 2022
3D topology optimization of a tall tower considering soil flexibility
Iago Cavalcante, Renato Picelli and Josué Labaki
CILAMCE–PANACM 2021
We cross-check conference records against the Lattes CV and available proceedings. Citations without a direct link are listed in the CV.