3D Robotically Bent Polymer Structure
The project is an ongoing research on the development of three-dimensional folding of profiles without the use of expensive formwork or time consuming additive processes. A robotic workflow is employed to achieve in a fast and efficient fashion the production of a highly intricated spatial instalation. Since the beginning, parametric computation was applied to design the overall configuration towards the detailing and fabrication setup. Formally, the project introduces an idea of spatial frames with a high degree of freedom, bending and twisting in space. Through the precise calculation with Finite Elements Analysis, a bundling system is used to develop a vertical structure made of light plastic profiles. Surfaces are produced from linear elements with textiles, creating different spatial and surface effects.
Structural Performance
The bundling system is able to produce continuous structural behavior from 2 meter long elements. With connections in multiple directions, the structure achieves great height with 3x3cm PE plastic profiles. The organization of material and orientation of components were defined with the constant and real time feedback of Karamba structural analysis.
Fabrication Strategy
With the collaboration of Clever Contour and their unique research on complex bending and twisting, an integrative workflow was introduced. From the conceptual design, a computational workflow was created to automatize the whole process: From initial ideas, structural analysis was used to guide and optimize design decisions. Rationalization of the overall form fed the fabrication system, creating a seamless flow from design to materialization. The geometry was translated into robotic production through KUKA|prc, allowing the simulation and pre-visualization of each component considering the specific material behavior. The construction setup was developed and optimized using a continuous digital design chain towards full scale production.
Instructors
Andrei Gheorghe (Universität für Angewandte Kunst, IoA)
Manora Auersperg (Universität für Angewandte Kunst, Textiles Gestalten)
Robert Vierlinger (Bollinger + Grohmann Ingenieure)
Philipp Hornung (Universität für Angewandte Kunst, RWC Lab)
Franz Steiner (TU Wien, Clever Contour GMBH)
Students
Zvonko Vugreshek, Hristina Kamenova, Jan Kováříček, Cristina Costea, Ondřej
Pokoj, Nicolas Stephan, Judyta Cichocka, Krzysztof Nazar, Victor Sardenberg, Alec
Singh , Reem Alkaisy, Tony Guedes, Ioana Mladin, Carmen Mladin, Izabela Kowalska,
Jonathan Paljor