Geometric Pavilion Structure Inspired by Silkworms

Innovation: Academia

MIT

2014

Image: jev55 / Flickr / Some rights reserved

Chemically Assemble Polymers

We might think that complex polymers are the result of human industrial ingenuity, but nature cornered the market on polymers billions of years earlier. Examples of biopolymers are proteins, carbohydrates, and genetic material. In contrast to human industrial processes, within a cell, ribosomes covalently bond amino acids together to form proteins.

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Chemically Assemble on Demand

The vast majority of biochemical assembly and break down processes––even by the most complex organisms––occur within cells. In fact, cells are able to perform hundreds, even thousands, of chemical transformations at the same time under life-friendly conditions (ambient temperature and pressure in an aqueous environment). For example, venomous snakes store precursor molecules to instantly synthesize a suite of toxins via enzyme-mediated cascades.

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Physically Assemble Structure

Living systems use physical materials to create structures to serve as protection, insulation, and other purposes. These structures can be internal (within or attached to the system itself), such as cell membranes, shells, and fur. They can also be external (detached), such as nests, burrows, cocoons, or webs. Because physical materials are limited and the energy required to gather and create new structures is costly, living systems must use both conservatively. Therefore, they optimize the structures’ size, weight, and density. For example, weaver birds use two types of vegetation to create their nests: strong, a few stiff fibers and numerous thin fibers. Combined, they make a strong, yet flexible, nest. An example of an internal structure is a bird’s bone. The bone is comprised of a mineral matrix assembled to create strong cross-supports and a tubular outer surface filled with air to minimize weight.

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Pavilion structure from MIT is constructed using 3D-printers and silk worms to explore the relationship between digital and biological fabrication.

Benefits

Customizable
Reduced waste
Efficient

Applications

Building design
Manufacturing

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 9: Industry Innovation & Infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

Bioutilization

Silkworm silk

The Challenge

Typical manufacturing processes build products by depositing layers of homogenous materials. Although these products are functional, they are often over-built with excess material, which decreases their efficiency and increases waste. Additionally, these base materials and processes can be toxic and harmful to the environment.

Innovation Details

The pavilion structure is called the “Silk Pavilion” and is made of 26 polygonal panels. These panels are constructed using silk threads made by silkworms, which a Computer-Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine lays down. The overall structure layout was formulated using silkworms as the “lead designer” to optimize material usage and placement.

Biomimicry Story

Silkworms are able to make their cocoons using only silk. Silk is made of stretchable fibers, that if untangled, would be as much as 5,000 feet long. Having a single, long fiber enables the material to more effectively distribute mechanical stress than several shorter strands. Silkworm’s generate, distribute, orient, densify, and assemble their silk to build their cocoons.

References

Journal article

SILK PAVILION: A CASE STUDY IN FIBRE-BASED DIGITAL FABRICATION

JStor

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