Designing and prototyping of a novel textile-based 3D panel

Abstract

The paper describes the designing and prototyping process of a novel textile-based building component, named Textile Wall, conceived to quickly erect walls and roofs with a protective purpose (humanitarian sheltering, flood protection, ballistic defense etc.), or simply to divide work and home spaces. Textile Wall is an innovative foldable cell panel, lightweight and freestanding, made of semirigid PVC foils and finishing textile layers. Stabilizing or insulating materials can fill its vertical cells. The height and the dimension of cells, together with the membrane material (fabrics, mosquito netting, papers, composite fibers), can differ in relation to its final use and the expected durability. Man portable with a small logistical footprint, the use of digital technologies allows tailing the production of the Textile Wall in various, flexible and modular configurations. It can be deployed rapidly, without any engineering support; the easy set-up will encourage local users to repair or rebuild homes in case of disaster, taking into account own constructive and social background. The Textile Wall has been one of the results of the collaborative research project S(P)EEDKITS, founded from the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme - Security Theme (2012-2016), in which research institutes, universities, companies operating in the emergency sector and non-profit organizations have rethought shelters, medical care resources and other facilities provided in case of natural disaster and conflict