Design and digital fabrication of biocomposite facade panels

German Research Foundation (DFG), EXC 2120: Cluster of Excellence IntCDC:
RP-6: “Design and digital fabrication of biocomposite facade panels”

2019-2022

The aim is to produce vertical lightweight panels with maximum use of biocomposites from annually renewable Natural Fibres (NF) and its integration within cyber physical fabrication and assembly processes.  In this project, newly developed Natural Fibre Reinforced composites (NFRP), also referred as biocomposites, will be digitally fabricated by automatized fibre and tape placement methods. The panels will be designed with integrated sandwich cores to enable embedded functions especially thermal insulation, fire stops and acoustic absorption. In a bottom-up approach, parametric design of the panels will take a place in an iterative process according to the fabrication, mechanical and physical properties as well as assembly processes. Through this research biocomposites will be investigated as a partial replacement of conventional materials as wood, aluminium, concrete etc. used for façade panels. This will help in enhancing the goal of sustainability in the future architecture, once through applying alternative ecologic building materials and secondly when digital off-site and on-site fabrication as well as digital assembly techniques are applied.

Bio-based Materials and Materials Cycles in Architecture (BioMat) Research Group at Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), University of Stuttgart

Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy, Dr. Jan Petrš, Piotr Baszyński  

The project is a part of the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC (more about here)