Buildings of the future could have shape-shifting powers with help from three undergraduate QUT students who have published their research in an international journal.
First published 13 May 2019
The engineering students _ Aaron Foster, Clare Moore and Bastian Brockhoff _ turned their final undergraduate assignment on manufacture of interactive objects into a research article worthy of publication.
Dr Dargaville praised the work of the engineering students in achieving an outcome not often reached by academics until their doctoral research. He said the work formed the basis for shape-shifting architecture, with buildings of the future able to change shapes throughout the day, or biomedical devices that could change form after being consumed or injected into a body.
“The idea of a plastic-gel shape changing composite originated after discussions with architects who are interested in making structures that can adapt to their environment,” Dr Dargaville said.
“The gel used in the composite is biocompatible and we’ve previously shown it used to grow fungi so it’s conceivable that you could have a living-shape changing structure that responds to humidity.
“Another application would be in medical devices.
“Again, because the materials used are biocompatible, you could imagine a device that is swallowed or implanted into the body through a small incision then opens out to fill a void and support tissue growth.
“What this study has given us is a fundamental understanding of how shape memory can be pre-programmed into 3D printed structures.”
The students, who graduated at the end of last year, were working on the yearlong group assignment as part of a Work Integrated Learning Capstone project.
The students considered a range of structural prototypes before achieving success by coating a 3D-printed pyramid shape with the hydrogel used in food additives. The pyramid automatically closed and opened as it was dehydrated and rehydrated.
Clare initially took on the research task and then suggested to her supervisors that she could bring on her fellow students and friends Aaron and Bastian, who both had previously trained as mechanics before enrolling in engineering at QUT.
Aaron is about to embark on a masters degree in which he will be working on a device for surgeons to aid in bone healing.
After initially considering other sizes and shapes, including a complex web-shaped prototype, the students designed a flattened pyramid with precision perforations as the natural spots for the shape to fold when manipulated.
“The first sample worked,” Aaron said. “The challenge was to get it to work the same every time.”
Bastian, who is now working in research and development of future technologies of cars, said one area of application for a shape-shifting unit could be in ventilation.
“Ventilation has so many applications,” Bastian said.
“We can think of it opening valves, or in humidity control and temperature control with buildings.”
Clare, who is a building services consultant in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, said the project had many ups and downs.
“We probably did the best work when we went off on a tangent – it’s not always what you originally set out to do that ultimately achieves your goal,” Clare said.
Along with publishing their research in the journal, the students all received top marks for the assignment.
“It couldn’t have worked out any better for us,” Clare said.
A QUT fashion lecturer and acclaimed theatre costume designer will spend 2025 in Finland on a fellowship funded by the European Union to explore new technologies in her field.