Design form-finding and structural evaluation of timber-natural fibre polymer composite hybrid morphologies
Abstract
The construction sector's transition from extraction-dependent and non-renewable resources to renewable bio-materials necessitates structural design methodologies that strategically leverage the capacity of bio-based composites. This research investigates the morphological development of hybrid timber-flax structures through integrative design methods, as demonstrated by the ITECH Research Pavilion 2024, a 7.5m multi-spanning structure integrating natural fibre polymer composites (NFPCs) with timber to form a hybrid, lightweight structural system. In contrast to state-of-the-art coreless wound NFPC structures utilising petroleum-based matrices, the present system employs a partially bio-based epoxy resin (35-41% bio-content) and examines differentiated material configurations positioning constituents according to mechanical capacity. Through a bottom-up computational design approach, the framework achieves a more efficient tensile-dominant load distribution within the NFRC network. The design framework couples parametric form-finding with multi-scale physical testing and finite element analysis, iteratively refining structural morphologies to minimise parasitic bending by aligning struts with resultant force vectors. Comparative analysis reveals progressive improvement in tensile fibre utilisation across both horizontal spanning plate systems and vertical column components, establishing a material-driven design paradigm for structurally efficient bio-based hybrid systems.
Reference
Tzu-Ying CHEN; Yanan Guo; Otto LINDSTAM; Quentin CHEF; Jan Knippers. (2026). Design form-finding and structural evaluation of timber-natural fibre polymer composite hybrid morphologies. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6900577
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