M A T E R I A LA C T U A T I O N

MAAD thesis 2018

CONTEXT

MAAD thesis 2018

Weave: Fall 2017

-robotically controlled fiber deposition-modular and reusable formwork

Robot’s Cradle: Spring 2018

-interactive fabrication process-volumetric fiber layout

Further Explorations: Greater integration of the formwork into the final design. If the formwork remains, could it have a transformative effect on the entire structure? What happens when the formwork becomes a kinetic element that can modify the fiber arrangement over time?

CASE STUDIES

Kinetic Architecture: Interactive, responsive, transformable spaces that can encourage greater exploration and understanding of one’s surroundings.

Al-Bahar Towers: 2012-responsive facade-used to reduce solar gain and glare

Stratus Project: 2011-interactive interior installation-mediating air quality and providing realtime information

MAAD thesis 2018

CASE STUDIES

Kinetic Architecture: Heavily reliant upon secondary mechanical systems. This calls into question issues of maintenance, durability, and the long term cost of upkeep. Is there a way to reduce the number of pieces going into a project, yet still maintain the same level of interactivity?

Al-Bahar Towers: 2012-responsive facade-used to reduce solar gain and glare

Stratus Project: 2011-interactive interior installation-mediating air quality and providing realtime information

MAAD thesis 2018

CASE STUDIES

MAAD thesis 2018

Kinetic Material: The materials themselves act as sensor and actuator all in one. As the material reacts to an outside force, changes in its physical makeup cause a reaction visible at human scale. These reactions can be further leveraged by encoding logic directly into the material assembly.

Reef: 2009-interactive social environment-shape memory alloy nitinol used as actuator

Hygroskin: 2013-responsive pavilion-wood veneer reacts to humidity levels

PROPOSAL

Material Actuation

An exploration into dynamic architectural spaces that do not rely upon heavily mechanized systems to achieve motion. Through the use of shape memory materials in combination with standard building materials, a new architectural language of composite modules can be created that will allow emerging smart materials to be used at the scale of the built environment.

MAAD thesis 2018

MATERIALS

MAAD thesis 2018

Shape Memory MaterialsThrough the Shape Memory Effect (SME), shape memory materials (SMM) are capable of recovering their original shape after a deformation occurs. This recovery requires an outside stimulus, such as heat, light, or moisture.

Shape Memory Alloys(SMA)-metal materials that are thermo-responsive-most common is Nitinol (nickel titanium) used in a ‘muscle-wire’ configuration

Shape Memory Polymers(SMP)-plastic materials that can respond to multiple stimuli-lighter, cheaper, more flexible than SMA-self-healing qualities

vs.

MATERIALS

MAAD thesis 2018

NitinolMuscleWire

NitinolSheet

PDLCSmart Glass

SMAR

T M

ATER

IAL

STATIC MATERIAL

Wood

Flexible Rigid

Fabric Plastic Wood Fabric Plastic

membrane surfaces,adjustable paneling,

responsive enclosures

X X X

deployable structures,kinetic frameworks,partitions/ceilings

X

responsive openings,interactive surfaces

responsive openings,interactive surfaces

foldable surfaces,

performative facades

X

foldable surfaces,

performative facades

reactive walls,performative

facades X X

SCALES

MAAD thesis 2018

Stages of Material ExplorationThrough the use of different material combinations, material actuation systems (MAS) can be explored through different scales.

Scale of the Bodyisolated experimentsmaterials vs materials

Scale of the Roomcomposite systemsmaterials vs people

Scale of the Cityspeculative networks

materials vs environment

TIMELINE

MAAD thesis 2018

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May

material testing, 1:1 explorations at human scale

fabrication of room scale system with hopes of installation on a site and potential for public engagement

documentation and curation, speculation into room scale systems

fall

sem

este

r end

sprin

g se

mes

ter s

tart

sprin

g se

mes

ter e

nd

documentation and curation, speculation into city scale systems

final presentations and publications,continuing material explorations

NEW THOUGHTS

MAAD thesis 2018

Pneumatics, Inflatables, and Robotic ArchitectureAfter further exploration and discussion, SMAs may prove to be too limiting. Rather than employ an extensive use of an expensive, ‘smart’ material, embedding smartness into static materials through computational workflows can allow for a greater range of design exploration. The worlds of soft robotics and inflatable architecture both explore ways in which flat, static materials can be made three dimensional, but each world operates with very different goals and scales.

Fluid-Driven Origami-Inspired Artificial Muscles:https://player.vimeo.com/video/241349581

NEW THOUGHTS

MAAD thesis 2018

ROBOTICARCHITECTURE

pneumatic actuation

experiential space

material logic