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| Abstract |
Hyperbolo-ICE is a free-standing ice shell that challenges the structural performance of ice. Ice is a material that performs best in compression; however, Hyperbolo-ICE pushes the structural qualities of ice to test if it is possible to create an ice shell from a tensioned formwork. The hyperbolic ice shell was designed and structurally optimized in a digital environment using Kiwi!3D, a plug in for Rhino and Grasshopper. Hyperbolo-ICE was successfully built in December 2019 in Harbin, China, during the 2019 HIT International Ice and Snow Innovation Design and Construction Competition. The construction process made use of flexible rope net formwork which was able to be fabricated in Kent and transported to the site in China to be deployed. After three points of the hexagon shaped rope net were raised to 5.5 m, the rope net was tensioned to create the hyperbolic shape. A custom, hand-fabricated muslin membrane was attached to the tensioned rope net. Over this membrane, a mixture of water and cellulose was sprayed. Once frozen, the support columns and rope nets were removed, resulting in a self-supporting structural ice shell.
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Faculty Mentor
Rui Liu |
| Modified Abstract |
Hyperbolo-ICE is a free-standing ice shell that challenges the structural performance of ice, a material that performs best in compression. Hyperbolo-ICE tests the possibility of creating an ice shell from a tensioned formwork. The hyperbolic ice shell was designed and structurally optimized in a digital environment and successfully built in December 2019 in Harbin, China, during the 2019 HIT International Ice and Snow Innovation Design and Construction Competition. The construction process made use of flexible rope net formwork and a custom, hand-fabricated muslin membrane that was attached to the tensioned rope net. Over this membrane, a mixture of water and cellulose was sprayed. Once frozen, the formwork was removed, resulting in a self-supporting structural ice shell. |