Melting 2.0 (2020)
article⁄Melting 2.0 (2020)
abstract⁄This project presents computational design and fabrication methods for locating standard steel reinforcement within 3D printed watersoluble PVA polyvinyl alcohol molds to create nonstandard concrete columns. Previous methods from ‘Melting Augmenting Concrete Columns with Water Soluble 3D Printed Formwork’ and ‘Dissolvable 3D Printed Formwork Exploring Additive Manufacturing for Reinforced Concrete’ Doyle Hunt 2019 were adapted for largerscale construction, including the introduction of new hardware, development of custom programming strategies, and updated digital fabrication techniques. Initial research plans included 3D printing continuous PVA formwork with a KUKA Agilus Kr10 R1100 industrial robotic arm. However, COVID19 university campus closures led to fabrication shifting to the author’s home, and this phase instead relied upon a LulzBot TAZ 6 build volume of 280 mm x 280 mm x 250 mm with an HS Hardened Steel tool head 1.2 mm nozzle diameter. Two methods were developed for this project phase new 3D printing hardware and custom GCode production. The methods were then evaluated in the fabrication of three nonstandard columns designed around five standard reinforcement bars 38inch diameter Woven, Twisted, Aperture. Each test column was eight inches in diameter the same size as a standard Sonotube concrete form and 4 feet tall, approximately half the height of an architecturally scaled 8foottall column. Each column’s form was generated from combining these diameter and height restrictions with the constraints of standard reinforcement placement and minimum concrete coverage. The formwork was then printed, assembled, cast, and then submerged in water to dissolve the molds to reveal the cast concrete. This mold dissolving process limits the applicable scale for the work as it transitions from the research lab to the construction site. Therefore, the final column was placed outside with its mold intact to explore if humidity and water alone can dissolve the PVA formwork in lieu of submersion.
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| Year |
2020 |
| Authors |
Doyle, Shelby Elizabeth; Hunt, Erin. |
| Issue |
ACADIA 2020: Distributed Proximities / Volume II: Projects |
| Pages |
192-197 |
| Library link |
N/A |
| Entry filename |
melting-2-0 |
