Digital design and robotic fabrication of biofoams for adaptive mono-material architecture

Introduction

The overall objective of the ARCHIBIOFOAM project is to create mono-material yet multifunctional systems for architecture through the additive fabrication of shape-changing load-bearing biofoams. Our approach integrates biobased materials science, computational metamaterial design, and robotic additive manufacturing to enable the structuring of the novel biofoam material at multiple hierarchical scales.

Project Objectives

The objectives are:

1. To create 3D-printable biofoams with programmable properties at the microscale.
2. To develop a computational design algorithm for optimal biofoam-based metamaterial structures.
3. To develop the fabrication processes for producing components with tailored stiffness and autonomously actuating parts at an architectural scale.

Methodology

The objectives will be achieved by manipulating the microstructure of bubble films in the biofoam to directionally expand or contract to external stimuli such as temperature and humidity. The mesoscale geometry of the biofoam will be automatically generated by a multi-objective optimization algorithm to achieve the targeted shape changes.

Fabrication Process

The computationally designed biofoam structures will have both load-bearing and shape-changing capabilities constructed at the meter scale by our new robotic additive fabrication processes. Our biobased mono-material systems will meet multiple performance criteria and eliminate the need for multi-material layered construction by leveraging the properties and geometry of materials at multiple hierarchical scales.

Engagement with AEC Sector

We will engage with the AEC sector to facilitate the uptake of our new digital design and fabrication process to enable a reduction of embodied CO2 emissions through the use of alternative materials.

Environmental Impact

This novel computational fabrication approach will align with global efforts to address the current climate challenge, aiming to enable biobased materials that can outperform high embodied energy construction materials while being recyclable and compostable at their end-of-life.