Biocomposite Façade Panels

DESIGN AND DIGITAL FABRICATION OF BIOCOMPOSITE FAÇADE PANELS

The aim of this project is to produce façade panels with maximum use of biocomposites from annually renewable Natural Fibres (NF) and their integration into cyber-physical fabrication and assembly processes. Newly developed Natural Fibre Reinforced Polymers (NFRP), also referred as biocomposites, will be digitally fabricated by automatised fibre and tape placement methods. The panels will be designed with integrated sandwich cores to enable embedded functions, in particular thermal insulation, fire stop and acoustic absorption.

In a bottom-up approach, the parametric design of the panels will take place in an iterative process according to the fabrication, mechanical and physical properties as well as the assembly processes. Through this research, biocomposites will be investigated as a partial replacement of conventional materials such as wood, aluminium, concrete, etc. used for façade panels.

This will contribute to the goal of sustainability in the future architecture, firstly through the use of alternative ecologic building materials and secondly through the use of digital off-site and on-site fabrication and digital assembly techniques.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Jun.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Arch. Hanaa Dahy
Bio-based Materials and Materials Cycles in Architecture (BioMat) Research Group at Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), University of Stuttgart

TEAM

Dr.-Ing. Jan Petrs (ITKE)
Piotr Baszynski (ITKE)
Evgenia Spyridonos (ITKE)