Abstract
The novel, robotically-controlled system delineated by this research facilitates a rapid and economical workflow realizing a complex network of parametric geometry. The method of concrete fabrication proposed here removes the traditional limitations of rigid formwork and satisfies the need for variation in the realization of parametric design. Lycra is stretched and positioned by robot arms as a formwork into which concrete is poured. Thus, the flexibility of fabric is translated into flexibility in design permutations. The prototyping considers material constraints, structural weaknesses, and load-path optimization to achieve a digitally informed final geometry.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical and material teaching of Julia Koerner and Peter Vikar from conception to completion. This work would not have been possible without their expertise at the UCLA School of Architecture and Urban Design. Special thanks to Greg Lynn and Guvenc Ozel for their guidance towards the completion of the project. The early experiments in casting with fabric for this project were conducted with fellow UCLA students Shobitha Jacob, Oscar Li and Qi Zhang who were a part of the initial research.
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Culver, R., Koerner, J., Sarafian, J. (2016). Fabric Forms: The Robotic Positioning of Fabric Formwork. In: Reinhardt, D., Saunders, R., Burry, J. (eds) Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art and Design 2016. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26378-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26378-6_8
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