Wood-based Responsive Systems: A Workflow for Simulating, Predicting and Steering Material Performance in Architectural Design

The presented paper address the complex condition of analyzing and simulating anisotropic responsive material systems in architecture, focused on thermally-activated wood envelopes. The objective is to define, develop and present a design integrated workflow for simulating, predicting and steering material performance, as a key factor for the development of adaptive material systems, developable into adaptive building envelopes. Using methods from associated disciplines of engineering, material science and computer graphics, the studies employ adopted and adapted techniques for advanced material analysis and simulation. From this approach, we illustrate a new cyclical design method for high predictability and simulation of anisotropic material systems, with low scale specification data. With a special focus on hybrid responsive systems and functionally graded materials (FGM), we ask how to integrate material performance, engage with high degrees of interdependency and allow the emergence of design feedback between the multiple scales of architectural construction. With a parallel equally concerned approach on material specification and data processing methods, the experimental computational and prototyping studies conclude with a series of critical factors for high precision steering of material performance in an architectural scale.