Saman Saffarian

Zusammenfassung

The ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2016/2017 is the most recent in the series of experimental building demonstrators developed by the Institute for Computational Design (ICD) and the Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart. The completed structure is a 12 m long cantilevering lattice-composite shell that was wound in one piece by a multi-machine fabrication system using coreless filament winding. To realise such a structure through this fabrication process involved a negotiation between architectural design, structural requirements and fabrication constraints. The structural design process was divided into two steps. A shell model was used to evaluate possible geometries in the initial negotiation between architectural design and fabrication constraints. In order to approximate the highly anisotropic material behaviour of fibre reinforced polymers, substitute material properties had to be determined in physical tests. In the second step the actual fibre layup was analysed using a detailed beam-element model. The main load bearing fibre bundles were directly analysed in cross section and position. As-built and intended geometry were constantly compared and the feedback was used to refine the finite element analysis during fabrication. This paper covers the aspects mentioned and gives an outlook on further possibilities of this design and fabrication approach.

Zusammenfassung

Hingeless shading systems inspired by nature are increasingly the focus of architectural research. In contrast to traditional systems, these compliant mechanisms can reduce the amount of maintenanceintensive parts and can easily be adapted to irregular, doubly curved, facade geometries. Previousmechanisms rely merely on the reversible material deformation of composite structures with almost homogeneous material properties. This leads to large actuation forces and an inherent conflict between the requirements of movement and the capacity to carry external loads. To enhance the performance of such systems, current research is directed at natural mechanisms with concentrated compliance and distinct hinge zones with high load-bearing capacity. Here, we provide insights into our biological findings and the development of a deployable structure inspired by the Flexagon model of hindwings of insects in general and the hierarchical structure of the wing cuticle of the shield bug (Graphosoma lineatum). By using technical fibre-reinforced plastics in combination with an elastomer foil, natural principles have been partially transferred into a multi-layered structure with locally adapted stiffness. Initial small prototypes have been produced in a vacuum-assisted hot press and sustain this functionality. Initial theoretical studies on test surfaces outline the advantages of these bio-inspired structures as deployable external shading systems for doubly curved facades.

Zusammenfassung

Smart and adaptive outer façade shading systems are of high interest in modern architecture. For long lasting and reliable systems, the abandonment of hinges which often fail due to mechanical wear during repetitive use is of particular importance. Drawing inspiration from the hinge-less motion of the underwater snap-trap of the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa), the compliant façade shading device Flectofold was developed. Based on computational simulations of the biological role-model's elastic and reversible motion, the actuation principle of the plant can be identified. The enclosed geometric motion principle is abstracted into a simplified curved-line folding geometry with distinct flexible hinge-zones. The kinematic behaviour is translated into a quantitative kinetic model, using finite element simulation which allows the detailed analyses of the influence of geometric parameters such as curved-fold line radius and various pneumatically driven actuation principles on the motion behaviour, stress concentrations within the hinge-zones, and actuation forces. The information regarding geometric relations and material gradients gained from those computational models are then used to develop novel material combinations for glass fibre reinforced plastics which enabled the fabrication of physical prototypes of the compliant façade shading device Flectofold.