Adaptive Tectonic Systems by Zach Young

ADAPTIVE TECTONIC SYSTEMS 2017 M.Arch Thesis

ZACH YOUNG

ADAPTIVE TECTONIC SYSTEMS ZACH YOUNG

Masters of Architecture Thesis Zach Young Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 2017 Major Advisor: James Kerestes, RA, LEED AP, Assistant Professor of Architecture Minor Advisor: Philipp Heidemann Visiting Professor of Architecture Copyright ÂŠ 2017 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

CONTENTS Project Proposal

Project

References

Special Thanks I would like to thank my advisors James Kerestes and Philipp Heidemann for their continued support,, insights, critiques and continually pushing me. I would also like to thank Dan Eisinger and Richard Tursky for all their help and knowledge with using the Kuka robotic arm. I would like to also thank all my peers and reviewers that shared their knowledge or offered critiques to my project.

PROJECT PROPOSAL In this thesis, I begin to investigate tectonics in architecture. Investigating how tectonics can be influenced by referencing growth patterns found in nature. Nature can help derive data that informs tectonics by efficiently informing the assembly of archi tecture and how digital fabrication tools can help facilitate the construction. This proposition looks to expand the building tectonics that are the standards in architecture today. I argue that architecture, should not be restricted by typical building tectonics and their limitations. Architecture has the potential to be informed by natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficient structures and organization systems. This project will look at informed iterations to demonstrate the opportunity of what tectonics could be.

Tectonic â&#x20AC;&#x153;relating to building or construction; architecturalâ&#x20AC;? -Dictionary.com

Factors of Tectonics Classic Tectonics Joint- is the most fundamental and smallest element of architectural construction. The joint can be regarded as the generator of construction. In various hierarchies, the joint links parts and materials and structures of the whole architecture (Semper, 1951; Frascari, 1983; Frampton, 1995). Detail- is the description of the material characteristics of architectural construction. It is also the formation of measurement, placing and making (Gregotti, 1983; Frascari, 1983). Material- is the element that represents the formation and composition of architectural construction (Semper, 1951; Moneo, 1988). Object- is the architectural part such as a column, wall, slab, door, window, etc. Many parts go into making the architectural whole (Botticher, 1852). Structure- is a concept, a unit or a process of transition of force. Structure is also a critical variable that influences tectonics (Sekler, 1965; Vallhonrat, 1988). Construction- is the operation of realizing the structural concept. Construction is also a hierarchical relational and logic process that places architectural objects in order from small to large (Sekler, 1965; Vallhonrat, 1988). Interaction- is the correspondence between site and architecture and between people and architecture, using the capacity of topography and perception (Frampton, 1995).

Factors of Tectonics Digital Tectonics Motion- is the serial process of dynamic operation in the manipulation of design concepts and form evolution (Liu, 2009). Information- is the utilization of digital signals in any form on the skin or surface of a building as a newly appearing material (Liu, 2009). Generation- is the automatic generating process of form or concept by the application of software generative systems/algorithms (Liu, 2009). Fabrication- is the process of fabricating the design components and the method of construction with the aid of CAD/CAM technology (Liu, 2009).

Tectonics â&#x20AC;&#x153;The attention to craft by using materiality to its latent inclination, allowing optimal integration of structure and building systems, allowing unique assemblages to be constructed to create performative spaces and formsâ&#x20AC;? -Zach Young

Classic Tectonics -Materials are still related in sizes of the human hand, so workers are capable of handling the materials. -Precision of the human hand is limiting to how precise forms and construction can be achieved. -Environmental conditions can limit human work environments and conditions.

Tectonic Possibilities -Materials not limited to size, due to the use of technology (robotics, drones, and 3d Printing). -The introduction of CAD(computer-aided design) and CAM(computer-aided manufacturing) is allowing us to use a higher amount of precision. -Environmental conditions have fewer implications if using (robotics, drones, and 3d Printing), these technologies also donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have .

Termite Systematic Logic - Agent based colony - Communication - Swarm logic - Pheromones - Logic of mound building - Agent based packing construction - Termites - Soil - Saliva - System of tunnels and shafts - Lung like - Regulates Humidity -Works as a gas exchange - Defense -Dead ends for protection

Capped Chiminey Mounds

Agent based swarm simulations. Trying to understand the logic behind an agent based system to influence how I move foraward.

Packing Simulation The swarm simulation did not use any logic of how termites build their mounds. Therefore, I went back to better understand the termite logic and found that they used a packing logic when building. From that understanding I needed to figure out characteristics of a packing logic. In my packing simulations I set up variables to see how they can effect the packing. The variables were: number of different sizes, number of particles, number of attractors, shape of particles, bounding of particles and the colliding speed and strength.

I also wanted to explore what results would happen if I collected all the particles to one center point, then explode them and let them repack. This idea would allow me to challenge wether the starting position of the particles played a big role in the packing behavior.

Packing Logic Habits -Smaller agents can easily maneuver around the larger ones -The larger agents canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t maneuver well, which is why they collect more towards the outside -The faster the agents collide allows for a dense collection of smaller agents towards the core -Changing only the speed does not change the result of the packing. -Changing the bounding box changes the packing results -Converging agents then exploding them out allow a more dense collection of smaller agents in the core. -Changing the shape of the agents did not change the packing characteristics

Hot Glue Material Exploration -Constants for test -Build Platform (petri dish) -Hot Glue gun -Amount of Hot Glue Extruded

-Variables -Type of Glue (cool temp and all temp) -Layer Height -Nozzle Temperature -Curing Times

Hot Glue Exploration Variables XX.1 Series – 1/8” Extruding Height XX.2 Series – 1/4” Extruding Height XX.3 Series – 2 Layers Extruded XX.4 Series – 60 Second Dry Time Between Materials 01 – HGL + HGL 02 – HGL + HGH 03 – HGH + HGH 04 – HGH + CGL 05 – HGL + CGH 06 – HGH + CGH 07 – CGL + CGL 08 – CGL + CGH 09 – CGH + CGH

Hot Glue Exploration Findings -Cool Temperature Glue -Extrudes fast on low temperature set ting -Extrudes even faster at high tempera ture setting -Glue spreads and fill gaps at both temperatures -All Temperature Glue -Extrudes very slow on low tempera ture setting -Extrudes twice as fast at high tem perature setting -Glue is firm and doesn’t spread on low temperature -Glue spreads some when on high temperature

01 02

04 05

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xx.2

xx.3

xx.4

Hot Glue Exploration With the previous hot glue explorations height was not explored. So next, I wanted to explore height with using hot glue. I needed to find out what issues are revealed once height is a end goal. Also I was going to not use a jig to control height and path of extorsion. I was just going to use eye/hand coordination.

Hot Glue Exploration Findings -Imprecision of hot glue placement once path is not visible. -There is more heat retention once there is a blending of extrusions and layers. -The heat retention creates the slumping and repose. -The ending place of the repose defined where the next layer would be placed. Creating a smaller footprint the higher layers became, -Slumping allowed for the points start to merge and move the higher in the process.

Tool Fabrication Pneumatic Caulk Gun -Develop a mount that will attach at the end of the robotic arm. -Design mount for maximum freedom of axis. -Allow for tool accidental colliding integrity. -Design for ease of assembling and disassembling Wood Base -Develop a base that will be able to line up material to extrude on for accuracy. -Use mounting holes that are already in the floor.

Silicon Caulk Exploration -Constants for test -Build Platform -Caulk Gun -Caulk Gun psi (25psi) -Material -Variables -Layer Height -Program Speed -Extrusion Time -Total Numbers of Layers

Silicon Caulk Findings

-The cure time is something that needs to be considered. -The weight and psi pressure, slump the lower layers. -The slower program speeds allow the material to not be pulled around. -The deposition amount needs to be enough to connect to close points to create stability.

Industrial Adhesive Exploration -Constants for test -Build Platform -Caulk Gun -Material -Variables -Layer Height -Program Speed -Total Numbers of Layers -PSI

Industrial Adhesive Findings

-The cure time is something that needs to be considered. -The amount of adhesive should be re-evaluated to gain more height and porosity. -Using a constant feed rate of material offers bridging capabilities, but needs to be fine tuned. -Each tube of adhesive is different, making it a challenge to go multiple layers since the amount deposited is not a constant.

Particle Packing Scripting I wanted to expand my previous packing simulation. I made a logic that would allow the particles to pack and at every level the start position of the particle was shifted. So, that it would not create the same layers.

Particle Packing Findings The particles did not have a logic to understand that it needed another particle of the same color below it to actually stand. This created floating particles, which once tried with silicon caulk it failed to support itself.

Swarm Logic Scripting I wanted to expand my previous swarm and agent based script to now influence the paths in which I would deploy caulk. The script was influenced by the strength of attraction between all of the agents and the total number of agents that are released. The agents were contained in a bounding box to have some control on the final output trail.

Continuous Curve for Robot Movement

Arrayed Raidus

Non Intersecting Curves

Simplified Curves

Agent Based Curves

Robotic Language Once I have the geometry from the swarm logic, I then need to populate the curves with points to identify the placement of the extrusion. Then any points that overlap by more that 50% of the previous are deleted. Once all the points are identified, I then create one continuous curve that connects all the points. This curve is then inputted into Kuka Prc. Inside Kuka Prc I am then able to control how long the caulk gun is extruding and how it retracts or moves to the next point. Retraction versus a drag can create different effects. The same goes for if the air is turned off between moving from point to point.

Caulk Extrusion Iterations

REFERENCES Ball, Philip. The Self-made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1999. Print. Frampton, Kenneth, and John Cava. Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1995. Print. Gerber, David Jason, and Mariana IbanÌƒez. Paradigms in Computing: Making, Machines, and Models for Design Agency in Architecture. Los Angeles, CA: EVolo, 2014. Print. Grobman, Yasha J., and Eran Neuman. Performalism: Form and Performance in Digital Architecture. London: Routledge, 2012. Print. Liu, Yu-Tung, and Chor-Kheng Lim. New Tectonics: Towards a New Theory of Digital Architecture. Basel (Basilea.): BirkhaÌˆuser, 2009. Print. Lorenzo-Eiroa, Pablo, and Aaron Sprecher. Architecture in Formation: On the Nature of Information in Digital Architecture. London: Taylor & Francis, 2013. Print. Mader, GuÌˆnter, and Elke Zimmermann. Walls: Elements of Garden and Landscape Architecture. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print. Meiss, Pierre Von. Elements of Architecture: From Form to Place Tectonics. London: Routledge, 2013. Print. Oxman, Rivka, and Robert Oxman. Theories of the Digital in Architecture. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014. Print. Picon, Antoine. Digital Culture in Architecture: An Introduction for the Design Professions. Basel: BirkhaÌˆuser, 2010. Print. Spuybroek, Lars. Textile Tectonics. Rotterdam: NAi, 2011. Print. Spyropoulos, Theodore, Brett D. Steele, John H. Holland, Ryan Dillon, Mollie Claypool, John Frazer, Patrik Schumacher, Makoto Sei Watanabe, David Ruy, and Mark Burry. Adaptive Ecologies: Correlated Systems of Living. London: Architectural Association, 2013. Print.