adaptive folding matrix// origami tesselated folds
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
Test series
Knowledge production of the three main test series xp1, xp2 and xp3 is based on scientific-empirical research. The notion test series describes experiments, which use [objective] research methods to measure, analyse and evaluate performance quantitatively. In this respect, the knowledge is gained objectively and systematically. The results are in a scientific manner controllable, repetitively verifiable and presented value-free.
Each of the test series focused on one of the three dynamic aspects of the folding principle individually and examined the performance for climate-adaptive behaviour in comparative analysis.
xp1 – shape studies
[by dynamic computational simulation of thickfolds on solar radiation impact]
The first test series covered the investigation of the dynamic shape of the thickfold concerning the solar irradiation on the surface. The objective to study performance through form [as folded morphology]
was approached through dynamic computational simulation.
A 3-dimensional computational model of a thickfold founded the empiric investigation. The model was virtually scripted in Rhino/
Grasshopper3D6 and enabled the ability to adapt the shape dynamically.
The adjustable parameters implied sizes, amount of facets, compression angles, orientation, direction, angles and the thickness of the facets on both sides.
The adaptive model was used to conduct the climatic simulations of solar radiation on the surface. Official weather data for Copenhagen was taken to simulate the performance concerning the irradiance in an open-source plugin7 called Ladybug8. All-in-all 124 simulations were calculated.
The result of the experiment consists of quantitative data, numerically calculated in the simulation process and displayed in a legend
6 Grasshopper is a visual programming language developed by David Rutten at Robert McNeel & Associates, that runs within the Rhinoceros 3D computer-aided design (CAD) application (Grasshopper | Deprocess.org 2014) 7 A software component adding features to an existing computer program 8 Ladybug: a parametric environmental plugin for Grasshopper3D to help
designers create an environmentally-conscious design (Roudsari, Pak, and Smith 2013)
underneath the model. Furthermore, each simulation was visualised by a model with applied coloured surfaces, referring to a reference colour bar in the intensity of the solar impact.
The substantial amount of data and visual results were systematically gathered in overviews. After reviewing the outcome, the evaluation was subsequently conducted on the base of excerpts. Led by nine selected objectives, the data and visualisations were comparatively analysed. A flat surface reference model was used to compare the impact among the folded test models. Results were both described and visually documented.
An additional test simulation with the alternative simulation program Ecotect was conducted to confirm the numeric results as well as the visualised surface [excerpt 6], to validate the outcome.
xp2 – materialisation studies
[by testing textiles for evaporative cooling in a climate laboratory]
The second test series followed the previous one in an analytic-empiric approach, however in this case within a physical environment and test setup.
The object of investigation for this test series was the embedded textile layer within the thickfold, which is described in its function in chapter 4. Starting point was the idea to activate this layer as a part of the compound for dynamic purposes in regards to climate-responsive behaviour. For the experiment, the textile was extracted and solely investigated for the potential to act as an agency for evaporative cooling in combination with humidification. The physical principle behind is evaporative cooling - essentially cooling air through evaporating water. The textile acts as a permeable interface and intentionally as a medium for water distribution.
The objective for the experiment xp2 was to study and quantify, how much textiles could influence indoor thermal conditions by evaporative cooling. For testing and verifying the assumption of evaporative cooling, two identical climate chambers were customised built in a combination of an insulated MDF box and an inner water-resistant PP box with a volume of 32 litres each. In their proportions and orientation, they were seen as ‘scaled’ interior spaces.
The front side was prepared for an exchangeable frame for permeable membrane samples to take in air. A small computer fan in the top provided a constant airflow through the climate chambers.
In the test setting at the climate laboratory facilities of Navitas [Aarhus School of Engineering] the test was conducted in a separate test room under precisely controlled [indoor] climate conditions.
Both climate chambers [CC] were situated in the test room for a series of temperature levels. An Arduino micro-controller combined with a
humidity-temperature sensor measured the climate conditions both inside and outside the CC and logged the data for further graphical and numerical analysis in Excel. Repetitively at each test run the same amount of water was sprayed on the textile surface, which afterwards evaporated by the airflow through the membrane and led to a cooling effect in the ‘interior’.
30 different test runs variations of different temperature levels, textiles, conditions and shapes were conducted to receive indications of cooling potential of textile screens.
One climate chamber served as reference setup to validate and compare the measured indoor temperatures without evaporative cooling. All measured results were visualised both in numeric tables and charts to display the temperature and humidity curve, highlight minimum and maximum results and show the time frame.
The evaluation of the numeric results was gathered in weighted matrixes as an overview, displaying the achieved cooling effect for the conducted variations. Indications for tendencies were elaborated and set in perspective.
xp3 - self-actuation studies
[by testing kinematic behaviour of thermo-sensitive materiality]
The third [and minor] test series covered the topic of material-based actuation as a direct response to climatic impact as a possible dynamic application for foldable structures. Correspondingly to xp2, the [thermo-sensitive] material was separately investigated in an analytic-empirical test setup.
The objects of the investigation were 57 similar thermobimetal samples. Through the application of distinct geometrical cut patterns on each of them, the kinematic behaviour was intendedto be affected.
The objective was to discover principles on how in general the movement could be manipulated or tailored for kinetic utilisation purposes.
Rising temperatures stimulate an actuation of thermobimetals.
Because of their dual-layered structure and the different extension coefficients of the types of metals, thermobimetals enable deflection.
The reaction is principally reversible, calculable, and thus predictable.
By the treatment of added cut patterns, this changes.
With the intention to open for a broader field of applications and to be able to match specific movements for kinetic designs, a variety of cut patterns was investigated.
The patterns were designed in AutoCAD and applied in a digital fabrication process to the bimetal strips with a waterjet cutter. The type of patterns was organised in groups and varied in sizes to receive clear indications on kinetic tendencies of the effect.
The experiments of the modified thermobimetal samples under heat impact were conducted with a test stand in a repeated procedure under laboratory conditions. All samples were one after each other placed in the same position under an IR-lamp, one-sided clamped and heated up to approximately 35 degrees. The temperature was monitored and logged, as well as the thermo-sensitive kinematic behaviour [deflection] of the samples was documented with both pictures, containing a millimetre scale reference in the background and short videos from a thermal FLIRcamera.
The series was split into two phases providing the same conditions and with the same procedure. While the first series represented a range of a broader spectrum of patterns, the second one continued with the most promising first results to intensify the effect.
The evaluation was based on the photo documentation as well as notes of specific kinetic behaviours. The results were gathered systematically in a weighted matrix, indicating ranges of effects from very high, to high, to similar, to low and to very low curvatures compared to the untreated reference strip.
Bibliography
Bang, Anne Louise, Peter Gall Krogh, Martin Ludvigsen, and Thomas Markussen 2012 The Role of Hypothesis in Constructive Design Research. In ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276264315_The_Role_of_Hypothesis_in_
Constructive_Design_Research, accessed December 1, 2016.
Grasshopper | Deprocess.org
2014. http://www.deprocess.org/category/tutorials/grasshopper/, accessed January 10, 2017.
Krogh, Peter Gall, Thomas Markussen, and Anne Louise Bang
2015 Ways of Drifting - 5 Methods of Experimentation in Research through Design.
In P. 13. Bangalore.
Martin, Bella, and Bruce Hanington
2012 Universal Methods of Design. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers.
Roudsari, Mostapha Sadeghipour, Michelle Pak, and Adrian Smith
2013 Ladybug: A Parametric Environmental Plugin for Grasshopper to Help Designers Create an Environmentally-Conscious Design. In Proceedings of the 13th International IBPSA Conference P. 8. Lyon.
Vyzoviti, Sophia
2006 Supersurfaces. Corte Madera, Calif.: Gingko Press.
Zimmerman, John, Erik Stolterman, and Jodi Forlizzi
2010 An Analysis and Critique of Research through Design: Towards a Formalization of a Research Approach. In Proceedings of the 8th ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems Pp. 310–319. ACM.
FIELDS. 03 contains the introduction into folding and the development towards origami technology as a rather new transdisciplinary [scientific] design field. Folding is contextualised with examples and research in the field and the focus on beneficial performance [aspects] of folds for applications related to dynamic building skins with the purpose of climate-responsive behaviour.
In a literature study morphological [folded] adaptation principles of plants in extreme climates are exemplified to indicate the relevance of the hypothesis to these ‘approved’ examples. An overview over own studies with paper folds describes the selection process for the final choice of the Miura fold as a base for further investigations.
The range of performance aspects is visualised in a matrix1, linking the paper folds with references to architectural scale, kinematic applications, biomimetic references and related product design. A second matrix2 evaluates the paper folds for geometrical and kinematic advantages.