Digital Wood: Computational Grain Realignment

Digital Wood seeks to develop lighter, more delicate, and more efficient structural framing members by computationally realigning wood grain to the corresponding principle stress lines acting within the member while it’s under load. This will be achieved by utilizing computational analysis and design software in conjunction with digital milling tools to produce molds, jigs and formwork required for fabrication. Once fabricated, the resulting framing member will retain the performance properties of the original, but in a fraction of the material and thus a fraction of the weight. This materials research thesis will utilize the intrinsic mechanical properties of wood fibre to produce a superior structural framing system.