Robotic simulation of textile as concrete reinforcement and formwork

Abstract

New possibilities of concrete constructions in architecture, the traditional formwork can be gradually replaced by the use of flexible textile. At the same time textile reinforcement combined with fabric formwork, introduces an innovative integrated solution in the fabrication of concrete. Based on a simple understanding of the textile weaving and knitting techniques, this project concentrates on the architectural production and the structural optimization of the textile as both concrete reinforcement and formwork. Furthermore, we present a robotic simulation of the process that develops using a series of computational experiments to research the sequence of weaving and/or knitting. Through the computational process and the design simulations, the research is firmly rooted in analog and digital exploration of material and its implementation in architecture, with particular emphasis on the convergence of robotics and computation. Note that the paper deals mainly with the software and weaving simulation as part of a larger research project, without dealing with the production of physical artefacts.