Abstract
An expanding global population has led to skyrocketing demand for construction materials, a trend that is colliding with scarcity in once-abundant natural resources like cement and timber. Designers and engineers have been tasked with “doing more with less” and are looking to the natural world for inspiration. Biomimetic design, or biomimicry, is an approach that leverages the systems, processes, and structures of nature to make designs that are more efficient, sustainable, and resilient. In this project, this approach is used to design composite bio-materials for architectural applications as a promising alternative to traditional building materials. Inspired by the forms of natural structures and derived from upcycled agricultural waste and renewable bioplastics, these materials possess a low energy intensity and environmental footprint. Through material science and industrial design, prototypes are manufactured and tested to assess commonly-cited limitations of natural materials - durability, performance, scalability, and validation of environmental benefit. Specifically, the project explores the carbon storage capacity of bio-based building products, offering a more robust and quantitative understanding of how these materials can contribute to achieving net-zero carbon goals by 2050. This paper discusses challenges and opportunities in transitioning to bioplastics in the building trades and share methodology for developing and evaluating prototype composites. Results are shared from early sample testing and life cycle assessments, and applications proposed for future industrial expansion.
Presenters
Jason CarleyAssistant Professor of Industrial Design, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Industrial Design, Materials, Environmental Impacts, Circular Design, Prototyping, Manufacturing
