minim[al]izing surfaces
In partnership with Maho Kobayashi and Zach Keller
Minim[al]izing Surfaces is an examination of cellular structures inspired by triply periodic minimal surfaces for heat gain in the form of thermal massing walls.
Overview
This project is an examination of cellular structures inspired by triply periodic minimal surfaces for heat gain in the form of thermal massing walls. It seeks to challenge a typical solid concrete thermal massing wall by developing a methodology of testing the thermal performance of these cellular structures. The objective is to figure out which types of minmal surfaces create forms with higher thermal perfomances.The logic behind using these forms stems from their increased surface area, density, material usage, and ratio of solid to void compared to a solid wall. As the research continues we hope to prove that these types of thermal walls are more efficient than solid walls. The following is the information we have collected thus far in our work.
Testing
We began with prototyping three types of minimal surfaces that considered scale, density, and surface type. The gyroid cellular structure was selected to 3D print in pieces and glued together to create a 12”x12”x4” mold. We casted concrete within the one volume of the mold and sand within the other to account for hydrostatic pressure. Once dried the mold was melted off using a heat gun.We let the concrete form return to room temperature for 24 hours before starting our testing. We tested the concrete cast by placing it in a thermal chamber with a radiator and thermomemeters. One thermometer was placed in midair above the heater, one on the front side of the closest wall, and one on th backside of the farthest wall. After five hours of heating the radiator was turned off and the thermometers recorded the heat loss over the next five hours. This test has yielded promising results with the cast building up heat more steadily and held heat longer after the radiator was turned off.