MyCera: Application of mycelial growth within digitally manufactured clay structures

Julian Jauk, Lukas Gosch*, Hana Vasatko, Christian Ingolf, Anita Klaus, Milena Stavric

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper we will demonstrate a digital workflow that includes a living material such as mycelium and makes the creation of structural designs possible. Our interdisciplinary research combines digital manufacturing with the use of mycelial growth, which enables fibre connections on a microscopic scale. We developed a structure that uses material informed toolpaths for paste-based extrusion, which are built on the foundation of experiments that compare material properties and growth observations. Subsequently, the tensile strength of 3D printed unfired clay elements was increased by using mycelium as an intelligently oriented fibre reinforcement. Assembling clay-mycelium composites in a living state allows force-transmitting connections within the structure. This composite has exhibited structural properties that open up the possibility of its implementation in the building industry. It allows the design and efficient manufacturing of lightweight ceramic constructions customised to this composite, which would not have been possible using conventional ceramics fabrication methods.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)31-40
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Architectural Computing
Volume20
Issue number1
Early online date20 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • 3D Printing
  • Bio-welding
  • Clay
  • Growth
  • Mycelium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'MyCera: Application of mycelial growth within digitally manufactured clay structures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this