THE USADEL LAB

TEPHA @ RWTH Transparent

Category: General  |  Date: Jan 27, 2016  |  Author: Alexandra Wormit

We will present results of our boost-fund project "Technical product harvesting" (TEPHA) funded by the exploratory research space (ERS) at “RWTH Transparent” upcoming Friday (29th of January 2016).

TEPHA is an interdisciplinary research project together with engineers (Institut für allgemeine Konstruktionstechnik des Maschinenbaus, http://ikt.rwth-aachen.de), architects (Institut für Tragkonstruktion, http://www.trako.rwth-aachen.de) and bioecologists (Institut für Umweltforschung, http://www.bio5.rwth-aachen.de).

The focus of this project is the utilization of near net shape grown organisms as technical products. The properties of plants and fungi are systematically investigated to evaluate their potential for technical applications.

As proof-of-concept, bamboo and calabash will be grown into almost rectangular shapes and analysed for their mechanical properties (e.g. tensile strength, pressure resistance). Additionally, growing the mycelium of a fungus into a given form is another approach of this project. Measurements of important material characteristics for engineers and architects will be carried out and the results of those experiments will be compared with finite element simulations. Subsequently, (microscopic and biochemical) analysis of the cell and cell wall behaviour in near net shape grown parts of the organisms will be analysed in comparison to natural occurring shapes.

For further information you can visit our posters at “RWTH Transparent” (Registration required, Ehrung@zhv.rwth-aachen.de)

upcoming Friday, 29.01.2016

7 - 9pm

Main building (Hauptgebäude) of the RWTH

Templergraben 55, Aachen

or our homepage (www.ikt.rwth-aachen.de/tepha, only in german).

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