A Study on the Design Morphology of Thin Bending-Wrinkle Structures
Sol-A Yoo, Dae Song Lee
Yonsei University DAAE, 2023
This study examines the structural functionality of architectural design through the bending and folding deformation of thin two-dimensional materials, drawing from morphological features found in nature. It focuses on wrinkle structures as a means of integrating structural performance with aesthetic expression. Rather than treating structure as merely supportive and decoration as supplementary, the research explores a design morphology in which both functional and ornamental roles are embedded simultaneously.
Previous studies on thin materials, especially in origami research, have mainly focused on stiffness produced through simple folding. In contrast, this study investigates bending deformation as a way of increasing cross-sectional depth and rigidity without additional components. Using a thin material referred to as a strip, the research applies different forces to transform planar surfaces into three-dimensional forms with the potential to support vertical loads. It begins with the geometric characteristics of deformation and extends toward the development of material systems applicable to architecture.
The study further examines the relationship between material deformation and stress lines in architectural structures. It argues that the regions where stress lines pass through the deformed material correspond to structural functionality, and that this relationship can be developed into an architectural design strategy. Through design experiments, the research proposes a new architectural system based on wrinkle morphology. Similar to how Le Corbusier’s Dom-ino system proposed a new architectural form, this study suggests that thin wrinkled surfaces can serve as structural and aesthetic design elements in contemporary architecture.
