ESR: Efilena Baseta

ESR NUMBER: ESR7

INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS: Cloud9 + Blumer Lehmann

INSTITUTE: Ioa

Description:

Load bearing structures generally show preferred directions for channelling internal forces that depend on geometry and prevailing support conditions (anisotropy). Current material practice does not take advantage of anisotropic material properties. However, anisotropy can be designed by placing oriented fibres in a matrix that glues them together (e.g. wood, bone), introducing small scale geometric modulations (e.g. corrugation) or differentiating material density (e.g. porosity gradient) and are interesting models for material optimisation. This project delivers new methods for simulating anisotropic materials. Finite Element Method (FEM) forms a proven and reliable method for anisotropic simulation. However these are computationally heavy and lack the flexibility to deal with complex geometries efficiently. With a focus on timber lamination, this project will develop new intuitive and light-weight parametric design methods that combine with structural assessment tools allowing design solutions to be optimised in respect to the interrelation between structural geometry, fabrication constraints, production cost and structural performance.

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