Shapeable cement innovative cement and multi-performance components for building skin

Nowadays, designers and architects can use tools and software to explore new and complex architectural shapes that can bring to the development new envelope components. However, to fully exploit the potential of parametric and computational design, a deeper connection with design process, performance analysis, and manufacturing process is required. Furthermore, the use, performance, and feature of complex shape panels entail the need to develop new materials and innovative interaction with manufacturing techniques. In the current state of the art, cement-based materials with their uniqueness fit the requirements regarding aesthetics and performance. Nevertheless, optimization and innovation in the production and manufacturing process are necessary in order to overtake the main limitation of this process; the formworks. The main objective of my Ph.D. research is to develop an innovative building envelope component made from a cement-based material coupled with a stretchable three-dimensional fabric in order to simplify the mold systems for façade applications. In addition to the simplified manufacturing process, this composite material allows for the development of a tailor-made thin, lightweight, and translucent cement-based panel based on performance. Simultaneously, I will develop a parametric tool to control this material in all the design steps from the idea to the fabrication stage passing through performance analysis. Shapeable cement is a non-structural composite material made by 3D-warp textile and a specific cement mix for interior or façade applications. Test, design and optimization processes carried out in this thesis show that with this innovative composite material can reduce the material used by 40% compared to a traditional GFRC element. With this material, traditional formworks are not necessary even for free-form panels. Furthermore, with its features, it is possible to design and realize high-performance façade applications like shading systems with complex geometry able to improve daylight performance and energy savings.

L'obiettivo principale del mio dottorato di ricerca è quello di sviluppare un innovativo componente per l’involucro edilizio costituito da un materiale a base cementizia accoppiato con un tessuto tridimensionale elastico per semplificare i sistemi di produzione. Oltre al processo di produzione semplificato, questo materiale composito consente lo sviluppo di un pannello a base cementizia su misura, sottile, leggero e traslucido basato sulle prestazioni richieste. Contemporaneamente è stato sviluppato uno strumento parametrico per controllare il materiale in tutte le fasi della progettazione, dall'idea alla fase di fabbricazione passando per l'analisi delle prestazioni. Shapeable Cement è un materiale composito non strutturale realizzato in tessuto 3D e con una specifica miscela di cemento per applicazioni interne o di facciata.