Fibrx Rocking Chair: Design and Application of Tailored Timber as an Embedded Frame for Natural Fibre-Reinforced...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Sustainable Architecture
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• The construction industry requires sustainable innovations, including renewable materials and reduced fabrication waste.
• Laminated timber veneer and natural fibre-reinforced composites (NFRPs) offer potential for strategic material placement and programmed performance.
• Traditional fabrication of bent timber or fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) elements often necessitates wasteful temporary formwork.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hybrid material and fabrication system for sustainable construction.
• To leverage laminated timber veneer and NFRPs for additive manufacturing processes.
• To demonstrate a waste-reducing fabrication method for structurally performative bent elements.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hybrid fabrication system combining laminated timber veneer and NFRPs.
• Utilizing thin, bent laminated veneer as an integrated frame for coreless filament winding of NFRP.
• Employing integrative design and simulation methods for prototype development.
• Fabrication of a rocking chair prototype to showcase the system's architectural potential.

Main Results:

• A novel hybrid fabrication approach was successfully developed and demonstrated.
• The system eliminates the need for temporary formwork in creating bent structural elements.
• The rocking chair prototype validated the architectural and structural potential of the hybrid system.

Conclusions:

• The developed hybrid system offers a sustainable and efficient alternative for fabricating complex architectural components.
• This fabrication method significantly reduces waste associated with traditional formwork.
• The integration of laminated timber veneer and NFRPs opens new possibilities for sustainable design in the building industry.