|Digital Matter
|Terra Preta
Upcycling cork to build a better landscape
|Team
Chim Meng ,Chaitanya Kumar , Dinesh Kumar
|Faculty
Areti Markopoulou, David Andres Leon, Raimund Krenmueller, Nikol Kirova
|Project year
2021-22
The project Terra Preta takes a radical approach to curbing the carbon footprint in construction industries. It advocates for the replacement of conventional high-carbon materials like Lime, Cement, and Steel Fiber with a carbon-negative alternative – Biochar, widely employed in agriculture. The primary objective is to use supplementary cementitious materials, such as Biochar, Geolite, and Natural Fiber, in construction processes, thereby mitigating the environmental impact associated with conventional building materials.
The core of the project revolves around the innovative use of Biochar, a carbon-negative material. This is combined with Geolite, a naturally occurring mineral, and Natural Fiber, forming a sustainable alternative to conventional high-carbon construction materials like Lime, Cement, and Steel Fiber.
The experiments conducted in the project have not demonstrated a significant difference in young modulus increment with the inclusion of natural fibers. However, they have successfully yielded a diverse catalog of biochar-cement ratios. This achievement opens the door to designing with a structurally graded material, potentially revolutionizing current monolithic construction methods.
The project undergoes rigorous testing to evaluate its structural performance and suitability for construction. ASTM tests are employed to measure crucial factors like compressive and flexural strength, which are vital for construction materials. A higher compressive strength indicates the material’s ability to withstand greater crushing loads, a critical criterion for its application in construction. Additionally, the concept of Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) is integrated, allowing for the optimization of material properties gradually over volume, enhancing the material’s overall functionality and applicability in specific construction scenarios.
In summary, the pursuit of low-carbon architecture aligns seamlessly with biochar, a lightweight material that effectively sequesters carbon. Despite appearing heavy, the structure’s use of biochar, with a density of 700 kg/m3 compared to concrete’s 2080 kg/m3, doesn’t conflict with our low-carbon objectives. By optimizing design geometries within specified boundary conditions and parameters, revealed , optimized catalogue of shape geometries influenced by Dali’s innovative designs. This exploration into Terra-preta not only provides insights into innovative applications but also champions the reduction of carbon emissions, promoting an environmentally friendly approach.
