NEW LIGHTWEIGHT FOLDABLE BUILDING ENVELOPE MADE WITH COMPOSITE MATERIAL

One of the most interesting geometries able to give responsivity to building components are foldable origami surfaces. Contemporary architectural research is increasingly focused on studying envelopes that interact with environmental boundaries. The aim of this research was the study of a material that can provide lightweight solutions for foldable building envelopes. Fiber composite materials seem to be the best solution for these origami surfaces. In fact, the idea is to preserve the typical characteristics of the fabric, such as lightweight and a versatility similar to paper, while ensuring protection from the deterioration caused by atmospheric agents This is ensured by the use of a polymer coating. This composite material can be folded and unfolded easily, like a sheet of paper, but with a higher mechanical performance. It is made with the thermoplastic elastomer SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) as its matrix, as well as a fabric reinforcement. In this research, following a general study on this subject, the authors worked on the composite material's production methods and on its mechanical characterization