VTechWorks staff will be away for the Thanksgiving holiday beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29. We will resume normal operations on Monday, December 2. Thank you for your patience.

Browsing by Author "King, Jonathan Lee"

Now showing 1 - 14 of 14
  • Thumbnail Image
    Artifacts of Questions Asked
    King, Jonathan Lee (Virginia Tech, 2009-05-06)
    The cyclic trajectory described here exemplifies a loosely defined, continuously evolving set of questions, results, and methodologies that have emerged during the process of design by making. Through a series of prototypical building components and assemblies this collection presents a design process that began with a top-down program-specific design process that informed the development of a unique building system and enabled a bottom up formal exploration. As the design thesis for the first professional Master of Architecture degree, this exploration surrounds the design, fabrication, and deployment of a series of component-based building assemblies. One example, the SEEDS Pavilion At Hawks Ridge, serves as a remote base of operations for a local youth organization that supports field-based environmental education. The pavilion continues an investigation of user assembled construction and is based on a component group that can be assembled on-site by camp children. Each building component was manufactured using on campus fabrication laboratories and was assembled on-site by a group of supervised SEEDS camp student-volunteers during a two-day design-build workshop at the Hawk's Ridge Preserve in Floyd, Virginia. The form of the structure is derived by the limitation of component number, size, and assembly sequence and represents the conflict between a parametrically derived prescriptive shape and the forms that result from the bottom up exploration of the physical system itself. The component-based construction is made possible by a series of nodal linkage assemblies designed to accommodate variations in on-site conditions using a strategic 'sloppy detail' that enables a high degree of assembly and deployment tolerance. The following collection of sequential images outlines construction of several prototypical components and assemblies and is intended to represent a continuance, not an end, to a long-term effort.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Deployable Infrastructure in Support of Science and Education
    King, Jonathan Lee (Virginia Tech, 2009-05-04)
    P.L.U.G. is a prototypical solution to a highly specialized design problem that emerged in support of remote biological field research in the Mahale mountains of Western Tanzania. In collaboration with researchers from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's (VMRCVM) Bush to Base Bioinformatics(B2B) group a team of students and faculty from the Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design designed, constructed, tested, and deployed the mobile field laboratory which houses up to four researchers and includes clean laboratory space, living accommodation, autonomous electricity generation, and a satellite-based communications network. P.L.U.G. consists of two primary elements, a rigid enclosed laboratory and fabric super structure that are constructed using a series of functionally-complex building components that are designed to be carried and assembled by two researchers, in one day, without the use of tools. (Kaur etal. 2007) The resulting system can be mass produced and utilized in the establishment of infrastructure in remote, environmentally sensitive, and unstable environments and has implication in disaster relief housing, human heath stations, remote research, mobile educational facilities, and any other environment or event that requires rapidly deployable, self-sufficient infrastructure. The prototype laboratory was successfully deployed during the summer of 2007 and has been field tested by the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) Bush-2-Base Bioinformatics (B2B) research group. Currently the laboratory program exists as part of a newly developed long-term research initiative surrounding Deployable Infrastructure in Support of Science and Education (DISSed Lab) initiated by the author in response to perceived demand for such accommodation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Enhancing the Capabilities of Large-Format Additive Manufacturing Through Robotic Deposition and Novel Processes
    Woods, Benjamin Samuel (Virginia Tech, 2020-06-12)
    The overall goal of this research work is to enhance the capabilities of large-format, polymer material extrusion, additive manufacturing (AM) systems. Specifically, the aims of this research are to (1) Construct, and develop a robust workflow for, a large-format, robotic, AM system; (2) Develop an algorithm for determining and relaying proper rotation commands for 5 degree of freedom (DoF) multi-axis deposition; and (3) Create a method for printing a removable support material in large-format AM. The development and systems-integration of a large-format, pellet-fed, polymer, material extrusion (ME), AM system that leverages an industrial robotic arm is presented. The robotic arm is used instead of the conventional gantry motion stage due to its multi-axis printing ability, ease of tool changes for multi-material deposition and/or subtraction, and relatively small machine footprint. A novel workflow is presented as a method to control the robotic arm for layer-wise fabrication of parts, and several machine modifications and workflow enhancements are presented to extend the multi-axis manufacturing capabilities of the robot. This workflow utilizes existing AM slicers to simplify the motion path planning for the robotic arm, as well as allowing the workflow to not be restricted to a single robotic deposition system. To enable multi-axis deposition, a method for generating tool orientations and resulting deposition toolpaths from a geometry's STL file was developed for 5-DoF conformal printing and validated via simulation using several different multi-DOF robotic arm platforms. Furthermore, this research proposes a novel method of depositing a secondary sacrificial support material was created for large-format AM to enable the fabrication of complex geometries with overhanging features. This method employs a simple tool change to deposit a secondary, water-soluble polymer at the interfaces between the part and supporting structures. In addition, a means to separate support material into smaller sections to extend the range of geometries able to be manufactured via large-format AM is presented. The resultant method was used to manufacture a geometry that would traditionally be considered unprintable on conventional large-format AM systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Exploring Novel, Hard, Acoustically Absorbent, Materials
    Rehfuss, Randall Jay (Virginia Tech, 2018-04-24)
    At the turn of the 20th century two contemporaries in their respective fields teamed up to develop a solution to an acoustic problem with the hard-surfaced vaulted ceilings being installed in many large spanning rooms being built at the time. In the spirit of their ingenuity, this research explores a 21st century solution to a similar problem in contemporary buildings; the desire for a durable, hard surface wall or ceiling material treatment that is more sound absorbent than other common surface treatments. To find a material answer to this desire an impedance tube was used to analyze the mid-frequency octave band absorption coefficients of various re-purposed existing materials and tiles created utilizing 3D print technology and Helmholtz resonators. Additionally, an empirical study of Helmholtz resonator geometry was performed by analyzing the sound absorption of resonant cavity shape changes. Finally, plots of the absorption coefficients for each material tested were created to provide a visual comparison against two common surface treatment materials, tectum and gypsum wall board.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Exploring the Potential of 3D Printing Construction to Address the Housing Crisis for South Sudanese Refugees  
    Quinn, Kyle O.'Brien (Virginia Tech, 2021-11-08)
    South Sudan currently has the third largest refugee crisis around the globe, with over 3.7 million people being displaced from their homes due to ethnic and political civil war. Over 2 million of these refugees have been displaced from their home country, seeking asylum in refugee settlements that neighbor South Sudan. One of the most important needs within these settlements is adequate housing. Through polling and census data, it has been found that more than half of the refugees are living in dilapidated housing conditions, without any resources to make repairs. The average amount of time spent within these settlements is over a decade and is increasingly getting worse as more refugees enter these settlements. Due to the exponential technological advancements in 3D printing technology, using this form of construction could potentially address a situation within a refugee settlement. 3D printing technology could provide benefits due to its ability to produce housing units at a high rate, its ability to use clay aggregate soil as construction material, mimicking adobe brick housing found in Africa, and the ability to lower the need for labor within these settlements. This thesis will explore the idea of employing this technology within a refugee settlement, to test if it can appropriately balance the implementation of a high tech 21st century technology with the historic and cultural vernacular architecture found regionally throughout Africa.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Facade Design for Material Reclamation Through Digital Fabrication
    Hammond, Perry Jordan (Virginia Tech, 2022-06-08)
    The pursuit of reducing waste and carbon emissions in the building industry is a challenge which is collective, prescient, and an opportunity for explorations of new material practices and fabrication methods. This thesis seeks to show how digital fabrication can serve as a tool in material reclamation and reuse in architecture. Utilizing the design of a pharmaceutical headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts as a vessel for investigation, both the challenges and potentials of such a process are evaluated. This proposal includes a process by which material reclamation drives design decisions in order to show that when architects consider material lifecycles and design for a process, rather than just a product, new possibilities can be realized for a building and its implications. By reusing existing metal cladding in the pharmaceutical building's solar veil, not only is waste reduced, but a narrative is conveyed about possible futures. Through creative material practices and digital tools, architects have the opportunity to create a future that is locally grounded, resource efficient, and less wasteful while meeting the needs of an expanding global population. This thesis raises a number of questions around material use in buildings, fabrication methods, facade design, and the balance between performance and embodied traits. The journey of designing for material systems is documented here in order to show the possibilities for change in the industry towards more sustainable material practices.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Fiber Orientation Effects on the Fracture and Flexural Toughness of Extruded Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Additive Manufacturing
    Jeon, Byeonguk (Virginia Tech, 2023-08-21)
    In this study, the mechanical properties of a fiber-reinforced cementitious composite (FRCC) were derived for specimens fabricated using two different methods of casting: conventional cast construction and pump-driven extrusion. Through the extrusion process, fibers are more likely to be oriented along the length of the member being cast and will therefore be more efficient since they are aligned parallel to the tensile stresses produced in flexure testing. The FRCC employed 0.5% and 1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber reinforcement by volume. The flexural properties of FRCC were determined using four-point bend tests according to a modified ASTM C1609. Calculations included the modulus of rupture (MOR) and flexural toughness based on load-deflection curves. The fracture properties of FRCC were determined by using three-point bend tests on the same design but having notched beams using the two-parameter fracture model (TPFM). Calculations included the Mode I critical stress intensity factor (KIC), the critical crack tip opening displacement (CTODc), the strain energy release rate (GIC), and the total fracture energy (GF). The results show that enhanced ductility and post-peak behavior are achieved in concrete to which fibers have been added, as has been demonstrated in other studies, although this study further demonstrated how preferential fiber alignment produced via an extrusion can enhance fracture and flexural properties of cementitious composites.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Habitat on Mars
    Hadkar, Aditi Anil (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-31)
    The information contained in this thesis explores ways to develop a habitat for human settlement on Mars. Currently, most designs for living on Mars focus primarily on survival and emphasize the technological aspects necessary for sustaining life. However, there is a lack of holistic consideration for what life on Mars would entail beyond mere survival. These existing designs are understandably geared towards astronauts who will spend only a few months on Mars. In contrast, this project is dedicated to envisioning the future of Mars settlement, aiming to support astronauts who intend to permanently live and establish communities on Mars, ultimately transforming them into Martians. The project adopts a human-centric approach by integrating biophilic design principles to enhance the well-being of future Martian inhabitants. It seeks to address potential psychological challenges that settlers on Mars may encounter, offering innovative solutions rooted in biophilia. This approach aims to create environments that foster connection with nature, promote mental health, and support overall quality of life for individuals living on Mars. Humans have evolved over millions of years to thrive on Earth, and many of our primal instincts are deeply rooted in our hunter-gatherer ancestry. Transitioning humans to live on another planet would uproot them from their natural environment, potentially depriving them of these primal instincts and causing psychological challenges. (Szocik, n.d.) This project aims to address these issues through architectural solutions. By designing habitats that consider and accommodate our innate instincts and connections to nature, we can mitigate the psychological impacts of living on a different planet. The goal is to create environments on Mars that resonate with our evolutionary heritage, fostering psychological well-being and adaptation in extra-terrestrial settlements.
  • Thumbnail Image
    A Model Institute: The Mansouria Agricultural Learning Laboratory and Community Center
    ElFallah, Sara (Virginia Tech, 2023-08-23)
    Inadequate rural housing, poor sanitation, resource scarcity, lack of adequate income and a general substandard level of living, forces a mass migration from rural areas into overtaxed urban centers in Egypt. Unable to sustain their families on increasingly smaller and less productive agricultural plots of land, families migrate to the cities in search of a better quality of life, economic opportunity, and services that are not present in current rural environments. The proposed project is an architectural proposal that seeks to resolve the deficiencies in rural environments to stem the tide of migration to urban cities through the introduction of a technical training school that focuses on building the agricultural industry in rural Egypt through the introduction of sustainable practices underpinned with appropriate digital tools.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Performance and Design of Extruded Fiber-Reinforced Mortar with Preferentially Aligned Fibers
    Alarrak, Rashed (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-03)
    This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation into the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC), focusing on fracture and flexural toughness properties, the impact of fiber orientation and distribution, and the evaluation of flexural models for predicting the behavior of functionally graded FRC. It embarks on a critical investigation aimed at bridging a significant gap in the understanding of FRC materials' behavior, particularly in terms of fracture and flexural performance. Across five distinct manuscripts, this work employs a variety of experimental methodologies, including three-point bend tests, four-point bend tests, digital image correlation, X-ray computed tomography, and the implementation of the two parameter fracture model and then size effect fracture method to explore the effects of different casting techniques – namely, conventional casting and pump-driven extrusion – on the performance of FRC. The core hypothesis tested throughout these studies suggests that the extrusion process, by aligning fibers parallel to tensile stresses, significantly enhances the concrete's ductility, post-peak behavior, and overall fracture and flexural properties. This hypothesis was corroborated across various experiments, which demonstrated that fiber alignment via extrusion not only enhances the concrete's mechanical properties but also leads to more effective crack propagation control, increased toughness, and enhanced residual strengths. The research encompasses a series of systematic investigations into the effects of fiber alignment on the mechanical properties of FRC, revealing that the extrusion process significantly enhances fracture and flexural properties and maintains residual strength after peak stress. Utilizing both extrusion-based and conventional casting methods with varying dosages of polyvinyl alcohol fibers, the study demonstrates notable improvements in fracture properties, deflection at failure, and equivalent flexural strength ratio for extrusion-based specimens compared to their conventionally cast counterparts. Moreover, the dissertation explores the impact of casting methods and fiber orientation on fracture energy, offering a size-dependent improvement in extrusion-based methods. The strategic distribution of steel fibers, employing an innovative targeted fiber injection for creating Functionally Graded FRC (FG-FRC), is shown to significantly enhance the structural integrity and resilience of the material. The analysis of flexural models applied to FG-FRC specimens, proposing a novel functionally graded factor to improve model predictability, further advances the understanding of the predictability and reliability of these models in assessing FRC's structural behavior. This dissertation advances academic knowledge in the field of FRC casting and offers significant implications for the construction industry, demonstrating a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities in extrusion-based FRC casting. Through its innovative approach and detailed investigations, this work contributes significantly to the advancement of the FRC casting field, paving the way for the development of more resilient and efficient construction materials.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Printing on Objects: Curved Layer Fused Filament Fabrication on Scanned Surfaces with a Parallel Deposition Machine
    Coe, Edward Olin (Virginia Tech, 2019-06-21)
    Consumer additive manufacturing (3D printing) has rapidly grown over the last decade. While the technology for the most common type, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), has systematically improved and sales have increased, fundamentally, the capabilities of the machines have remained the same. FFF printers are still limited to depositing layers onto a flat build plate. This makes it difficult to combine consumer AM with other objects. While consumer AM promises to allow us to customize our world, the reality has fallen short. The ability to directly modify existing objects presents numerous possibilities to the consumer: personalization, adding functionality, improving functionality, repair, and novel multi-material manufacturing processes. Indeed, similar goals for industrial manufacturing drove the research and development of technologies like direct write and directed energy deposition which can deposit layers onto uneven surfaces. Replicating these capabilities on consumer 3-axis FFF machines is difficult mainly due to issues with reliability, repeatability, and quality. This thesis proposes, demonstrates, and tests a method for scanning and printing dimensionally-accurate (unwarped) digital forms onto physical objects using a modified consumer-grade 3D printer. It then provides an analysis of the machine design considerations and critical process parameters.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Robotic Fabrication Workflows for Environmentally Driven Facades
    Cabrera, Pablo Marcelo (Virginia Tech, 2019-07-25)
    Even though computer simulation of environmental factors and manufacturing technologies have experienced a fast development, architectural workflows that can take advantage of the possibilities created by these developments have been left behind and architectural design processes have not evolved at the same rate. This research presents design to fabrication workflows that explore data driven design to improve performance of facades, implementing for this purpose computational tools to handle environmental data complexity and proposes robotic fabrication technologies to facilitate façade components fabrication. During this research three design experiments were conducted that tested variations on the design to fabrication workflow, approaching the flow of information in top-down and bottom-up processes. Independent variables such as material, environmental conditions and structural behavior, are the framework in which workflow instances are generated based on dependent variables such as geometry, orientation and assembly logic. This research demonstrates the feasibility of a robotic based fabrication method informed by a multi-variable computational framework plus a simulation evaluator integrated into a design to fabrication workflow and put forward the discussion of a fully automated scenario.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Skyward Serenity
    Pednekar, Prathamesh Sunil (Virginia Tech, 2024-05-31)
    This thesis explores the challenges of urban sprawl and land scarcity, focusing on Mumbai, a city constrained by geographical boundaries and marked by high population density. With Mumbai encircled by the sea on three sides, opportunities for horizontal expansion are severely limited, prompting the exploration of vertical development as a sustainable and innovative solution. This research proposes a vertical urban model that stacks traditional city sectors—residential, commercial, and recreational—within a compact vertical space. The aim is to house a growing population efficiently, while freeing ground-level areas for vital green spaces such as farms and public parks, especially targeting the eastern coast of Mumbai, the city's last undeveloped frontier. A central element of the thesis is the design approach, which counters the typical social isolation found in high-rise living. Drawing inspiration from the communal dynamics of Mumbai's traditional chawls, the proposed architectural model merges communal living areas with private spaces to foster both community interaction and individual privacy. This hybrid design approach is thoroughly developed through an analysis of chawl lifestyles, adapting their community-enriching aspects to suit the demands of modern urban living in vertical structures. By investigating the feasibility and benefits of vertical integration through detailed architectural designs and urban planning frameworks, this study not only addresses Mumbai's physical constraints but also prioritizes the psychological and social well-being of its inhabitants. The outcome is a holistic urban development model that not only enhances urban life quality but also provides a template for other densely populated cities facing similar challenges. This thesis sets a precedent for future urban planning endeavors, promoting a balanced, sustainable approach to city development that can be adapted globally.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Tall Mass-Timber Building
    Morales Sabogal, Agni Amram (Virginia Tech, 2017-06-30)
    How can we as design professionals contribute to increase the use of less carbon-intensive materials to build our growing cities? Cities are experiencing a resurgence in population growth and therefore the building industry ought to attend this demand with sustainable solutions. One way of responding to the growing urban population and increase demand for housing as well as to make efficient use of our limited resources is to increase the density in our cities. Since steel and concrete have high material strengths, we currently use either steel, concrete or composites of them to build skyscrapers. Unfortunately, both of these materials have a large carbon footprint. The design community has the challenge to achieve net-zero emissions buildings by the year 2030, and the efforts now should be focused on using less carbon intensive materials, such as timber. While cultures around the world have built with wood for centuries, recent technological innovations, such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), is allowing for new applications of wood as the main structural material and the potential to use it for large-scale projects. However, as expected with a new building material some constrains have still to be overcome. For my thesis, I desired to explore this issue through the design of a tall building using mass timber as its main structural material. Engineered timber is here, the future is bright!