MULTIMESO Lab | Cornell Design Tech

In February of 2024 — exactly one year ago — I defended my PhD at the University of Stuttgart. I'm delighted to finally share that my PhD dissertation is now officially available online! The physical book reminds me of the friends I made at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and wider Cluster of Excellence IntCDC | University of Stuttgart community who made my years in Germany so special. You can download the dissertation here! https://lnkd.in/e5XwiHrk #phd #doctoral #research #science #dr #dissertation #thesis #materialprogramming #computationalfabrication #4dprinting #programmable #shapechange #selfshaping #bioinspired #biobased #architecture #engineering #construction

?? ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRATION ?? The weather-responsive shading system was installed on the facade of the livMatS Biomimetic Shell in Freiburg, Germany. Designed to assist in the climate regulation of the building, the 4D-printed shading elements are shown here adapting their shapes and shading configuration from cool morning conditions to the afternoon heat – all without relying on any electrical operating energy, powered solely by fluctuations in the environment. Related publication: Cheng, Tahouni, Sahin, Ulrich, Lajewski, Bonten, Wood, Rühe, Speck, Menges: 2024, Weather-responsive adaptive shading through biobased and bioinspired hygromorphic 4D-printing. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54808-8 ?? Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #programmable?#3dprinting?#design?#technology #computationaldesign?#digitalfabrication?#engineering #research?#materialprogramming #adaptivefacades #adaptivearchitecture

?? WEATHER-RESPONSIVE SHADING ?? To validate the self-shaping shading elements against other daily and seasonal oscillations in temperature and humidity, we built a mock-up of the facade system that simulated the target building through its height and south-facing orientation. Over one year of monitoring the system under real weather conditions showed the 4D-printed shading elements autonomously closing during warm and sunny days, demonstrating how biobased materials and bioinspired 4D-printing can enable weather-responsive shading. Related publication: Cheng, Tahouni, Sahin, Ulrich, Lajewski, Bonten, Wood, Rühe, Speck, Menges: 2024, Weather-responsive adaptive shading through biobased and bioinspired hygromorphic 4D-printing. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54808-8 ?? Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #programmable #3dprinting #design #technology #computationaldesign #digitalfabrication #engineering #research #materialprogramming #adaptivefacades #adaptivearchitecture

?? BIOINSPIRED AND BIOBASED 4D-PRINTING ?? Cellulose is an abundant, renewable, and hygromorphic material that swells and shrinks with changes in humidity. We leveraged its properties by using cellulose as a raw material and custom-engineering biobased filaments for 4D-printing. Using a standard fused filament fabrication 3D-printer, we controlled the extrusion of the cellulosic material in bioinspired structures based on the working principles of pine cone scales. Stay tuned for more ? Related publication: Cheng, Tahouni, Sahin, Ulrich, Lajewski, Bonten, Wood, Rühe, Speck, Menges: 2024, Weather-responsive adaptive shading through biobased and bioinspired hygromorphic 4D-printing. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54808-8 ?? Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #programmable?#3dprinting?#design?#technology #computationaldesign?#digitalfabrication?#engineering #research?#materialprogramming

?? ADAPTIVE BUILDING FACADE ?? The Solar Gate was built upon many years of foundational research on self-shaping mechanisms inspired by pine cone scales, which open and close without consuming any metabolic energy. For its application a real building on the University of Freiburg campus, we had to address new challenges in designing self-shaping mechanisms for adaptive shading in specific environmental conditions, and across much longer timescales than before. Stay tuned for more ? Related publication: Cheng, Tahouni, Sahin, Ulrich, Lajewski, Bonten, Wood, Rühe, Speck, Menges: 2024, Weather-responsive adaptive shading through biobased and bioinspired hygromorphic 4D-printing. Nature Communications. https://lnkd.in/dKXu5-Cr ?? Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD)

I'm thrilled to finally share the results of the Solar Gate project – and also proud to say that the research has been published in #NatureCommunications of Nature Portfolio! The Solar Gate was built upon many years of foundational research that we developed on self-shaping mechanisms. For its application on the livMatS Biomimetic Shell (a real building on the University of Freiburg campus), we had to address new challenges in designing adaptive shading for specific environmental conditions, across much longer timescales than we had before. This was a great team effort involving biologists, material scientists, and architects. Through our interdisciplinary collaboration, we created the first ever (that we know) bioinspired and 4D-printed facade system that autonomously provides shading without consuming any electricity. Powered entirely by the weather, the Solar Gate highlights the potential of accessible, low-cost technologies such as additive manufacturing and cellulose as an abundant, renewable material for tackling operational and embodied carbon in buildings. Open access article article: https://lnkd.in/eDt7HVPy Behind the scenes article: https://lnkd.in/e9JGMwRn Many thanks to my co-authors at the University of Stuttgart / Cluster of Excellence IntCDC | University of Stuttgart and University of Freiburg / Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS): Yasaman Tahouni, Ekin S?la ?ahin, Kim Ulrich, Silvia Lajewski, Christian Bonten, Dylan Wood, Jürgen Rühe, Thomas Speck, and Achim Menges. With the completion of this work at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD), I'm excited to begin my new chapter at Cornell University!

?? BIOINSPIRED SELF-TIGHTENING continued… ?? Using 4D-printing, the function of self-tightening was demonstrated in a wrist-forearm splint, a common orthotic device. By mimicking the motion steps of D. bulbifera, the 4D-printed splint generated forces in the same range as the plant role model [LEFT]. However, by increasing the number of tensioning elements (than occurring naturally in the plant), the 4D-printed splint achieved even higher forces [RIGHT]—highlighting the potential of computational fabrication to extend the design space and performance beyond the original bio-inspiration. ?? Tiffany Cheng | Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #design #engineering #research #science #technology #materialprogramming #computationaldesign #digitalfabrication #3Dprinting #4Dprinting #mesostructures #programmable #responsive #selfshaping #adaptive #bioinspired #biobased #wearables

?? BIOINSPIRED SELF-TIGHTENING ?? Nature offers a wealth of unexplored design strategies for transfer to our technical systems. The twining vine Dioscorea bulbifera climbs by generating large squeezing forces on its host structure, allowing it to ascend great heights without slipping. By emulating the plant’s motion sequence, this efficient and effective tensioning mechanism was employed in a personalized splint with adaptive tightening for increased wearing comfort. ?? Tiffany Cheng | Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #design #engineering #research #science #technology #materialprogramming #computationaldesign #digitalfabrication #3Dprinting #4Dprinting #mesostructures #programmable #responsive #selfshaping #adaptive #bioinspired #biobased #wearables

?? WEARABLE TECH continued… ?? Our bodies are unique and constantly changing. 3D-/4D-printing can be used to personalize orthotic devices for different shapes and sizes, as well as passively adapt to changes in our bodies. This multifunctional splint showcases surface textures from soft to hard, areas of adaptive pressure through localized shape change, and directional qualities in stiffness and flexibility. ?? Video by Tiffany Cheng | Doctoral research work while at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #design #engineering #research #science #technology #materialprogramming #computationaldesign #digitalfabrication #3Dprinting #4Dprinting #mesostructures #programmable #responsive #selfshaping #adaptive #bioinspired #biobased #wearables

?? WEARABLE TECH ?? 4D-printing opens up new design possibilities for functional and highly customized end products in the medical and sports industries. Produced using an inexpensive, everyday 3D-printer, this personalized orthosis provides adaptive fit and comfort by integrating soft/stiff surfaces, moisture-activated shape-changing zones, and insertable components such as magnets and aligners into a single device. ?? Diagram by Tiffany Cheng | Doctoral research work at Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) #design #engineering #research #science #technology #materialprogramming #computationaldesign #digitalfabrication #3Dprinting #4Dprinting #mesostructures #programmable #responsive #selfshaping #adaptive #bioinspired #biobased #wearables