EVOLUTION

With this post, we mark the end of the material experimentation for HYBrid BIOStructures. Our research resulted in a family of deviant and unique prototypes that made us understand the process better, and solve some of the problems we could encounter with such building method. Each generation within the family adopted benign features of its successors, to derive to the fittest design.

Aided with a catalogue of informative models, we plan to parametrically generate a system that follows the construction method, where programmatic function and spatial narrative is the main parameter. To devise an algorithmic solution to planning, that follows our material system and building logistics.

HYBIOS 3.1/ Multi-Level Spatial Differentiation

With this HYBIOS, we tried introducing multiple heights by adding a new floor plate. The mesh was stretched from the top layer to the next one and from the mid layer to the lower one to support it upwards. Spatial differentiation of multiple levels starts to emerge, and scale relations of elements appears clearer. 

Mesh Stretch/ Forming Experiment

We tested our method of forming on a different material system. This time using a thin, formable aluminum mesh.

The mesh was stretched on Lycra fabric and reinforced with strips of a stronger hexagonal mesh. The mesh combination was plastered with concrete using a trowel and smoothned with a layer of grout brushed into the surface.  

The forming process was successful, we achieved a satisfactory displacement measurement of about 400 mm on a small 1000x1000 mm piece. 

Concrete Testing/

We casted concrete slabs with different mix levels and reinforcement material. The slabs were weighed and tested for compressive loads. The intension is to compare CC concrete cloth to mesh reinforcement as potential materials for forming. 

Fabric / Concrete Cloth Testing

The past two weeks we decided to get our hands dirty, and take a stab at material testing. 

We tested the fabric that we have been using to create the HYBIOS and several other fabrics, such as cotton and scrim. We used a meter to measure the weight devised from pulling, as well as the displacement threshold before the material would break. The materials were tested on a 1000x1000x1000 mm frame.

Concrete cloth was tested at 4 mm thickness. The maximum displacement was about 400 mm, after which the concrete cloth would break.

A curvature analysis and a displacement calculation were produced. We modeled the resultant form that was the result of pulling the Concrete Cloth at the center. The displacement calculation would help us in setting limits for the next analogue and digital experiments. ANSYS was used to create the displacement chart of an 8 mm  concrete shell with steel mesh reinforcement. 

The Material was hydrated and left to set completely for about 24 hours. 

Many problems were encountered, but the material successfully deformed using the pulling and tensioning method. We noticed that pushing the material up with a stick produced lesser deformed curvatures. Creases and ripping should be avoided.

AnaHYBIOS 3.0_ Lab Photos

DigiHYBIOS 1.0 & AnaHYBIOS 3.0 / New Approach: From Digital FormFinding to Analogue Methods

With the latest HYBIOS, we adopted a new approach. This time the experiment was based on a digital FormFinding algorithm using Daniel Piker's Kangaroo Plugin for Grasshopper. The new experiment also resolved some of the issues of the previous experiment. 

A cellular grid was used to generate a frame for pathways to have a more even floor to walk on. This time, the modeling was done to scale. Points were restricted at the pathway edges to create ramps on the raised platform. The mesh was relaxed within the grid cells to create blob-like forms by restricting the outlines of the grid. The roof membrane was stretched towards the center of the cells. The idea is to create a circulation path within the space, where depressions within the grid cells could be used for seating etc. Although more control was gained over the digital FormFinding process, there were a lot of restrictions with using the algorithm. Material behaviour and mesh qualities could not be embedded within the logic of the algorithm. Deforming the mesh was not done in real time either, which was a major restriction. We would like to create a script eventually that solves the problems of the current tools we are using and calculates the forces as output.

We deployed the same logic with the analogue prototype. The results were approximately similar, although we have more control over the shaping process, which enabled us to generate more interesting archi-tectonics. The idea of the developed formwork is that the floor grid could be reused to cast several other HYBIOS. The model was constructed to a scale of 1:50 for a 20m x 20m space. Essentially the point of this experiment is to control the reusable formwork to form the structures.

AnaHYBIOS 2.0 & 2.1

Results: AnaHYBIOS 2.0 & 2.1 _First Draft

"When light falls on the retina of the human eye, it hits 126 million sensory cells which transform it into electrical signals. Even the smallest unit of light, a photon, can stimulate one of these sensory cells" Butdoesitfloat

... Better photos coming soon.

C.A.S.T Team of the University of Manitoba

An interesting article featured in the AD Magazine 'Protoarchitecture' by the cast team at the University of Manitoba. Mark West talks about creating architectural protoypes using innovative analogue methods and materials. The article focuses on the feedback loop between the analogue and the digital when investigating these prototypes.