Lukas Schnelle | PhD candidate @RWTH Aachen

I am a PhD candidate and research assistant at RWTH Aachen University, jointly affiliated with the Institute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design (SLA) and the Chair of Algebra and Representation Theory (ART), supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai-Uwe Schröder and Prof. Dr. Alice C. Niemeyer.

My research bridges pure mathematics and structural engineering, focusing on the intersection of topological interlocking and crystallographic groups with applications in lightweight design and civil engineering. I am actively involved in the DFG Collaborative Research Centres SFB/TRR 280 (Design Strategies for Material-Minimized Carbon Reinforced Concrete Structures) and SFB/TRR 188 (Damage Controlled Forming Processes). Alongside my theoretical and numerical work, I contribute to the open-source computer algebra system GAP, co-creating and developing packages such as GAPic, SimplicialSurfaces, and CrystFundDom.

In my spare time, I enjoy tinkering with computers, servers, and self-hosted IT infrastructure, as well as 3D printing. For relaxation, I also take care of houseplants, which has become a fulfilling hobby.

selected publications

A pyramidal ISRU lunar habitat design based on topological interlocking of sintered regolith blocks

L.S., Kai-Uwe Schröder, Alice C. Niemeyer, and Yuri Estrin

arXiv preprint arXiv:2610.01770, 2026

DOI Preprint Bib

@article{schnelle2026c,
  title = {A pyramidal ISRU lunar habitat design based on topological interlocking of sintered regolith blocks},
  author = {Schnelle, Lukas and Schr{\"o}der, Kai-Uwe and Niemeyer, Alice C. and Estrin, Yuri},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2610.01770},
}

Influence of a generative parameter on the mechanical performance of topological interlocking assemblies of a hexagonal block

L.S., Meike Weiß, Reymond Akpanya, Kai-Uwe Schröder, and Alice C. Niemeyer

Procedia CIRP, 2026

36th CIRP Design Conference (CIRP Design 2026)

DOI Preprint Bib

@article{schnelle2026b,
  title = {Influence of a generative parameter on the mechanical performance of topological interlocking assemblies of a hexagonal block},
  journal = {Procedia CIRP},
  volume = {142},
  pages = {446-450},
  year = {2026},
  note = {36th CIRP Design Conference (CIRP Design 2026)},
  issn = {2212-8271},
  doi = {10.1016/j.procir.2026.05.289},
  url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827126008632},
  author = {Schnelle, Lukas and Wei{\ss}, Meike and Akpanya, Reymond and Schr{\"o}der, Kai-Uwe and Niemeyer, Alice C.},
  keywords = {Topological Interlocking, Wallpaper Group, Hexagonal Block, Mechanical performance, Parameter Study, Generative Design, Architectured Materials},
}

Influence of block arrangement on mechanical performance in topological interlocking assemblies: A study of the versatile block

Tom Goertzen, Domen Macek, L.S., Meike Weiß, Stefanie Reese, and 2 more authors

International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2025

Awarded DOI Preprint Bib Code

Best Paper Award 2025 from SFB/TRR 280

@article{goertzen2025influence,
  title = {Influence of block arrangement on mechanical performance in topological interlocking assemblies: A study of the versatile block},
  author = {Goertzen, Tom and Macek, Domen and Schnelle, Lukas and Wei{\ss}, Meike and Reese, Stefanie and Holthusen, Hagen and Niemeyer, Alice C},
  journal = {International Journal of Solids and Structures},
  volume = {306},
  pages = {113102},
  year = {2025},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  doi = {10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2024.113102},
}