Re-VoxLam Truss. Topology optimisation and reclaimed voxel lamination of horizontal wood structures.

Despite its potential to decarbonise the built environment, wood is often foundon construction sites as a source of waste rather than building material. In Denmark,wood is mainly used for temporary structures envisioned for short life cycles and singleuse, after which it is destined for incineration, defining it as “sustainable energy”. Thisresearch proposes an innovative design-to-fabrication process for sourcing timber wasteas a valuable matter for a novel typology of structural elements, thereby extending theirlifecycle and carbon sequestration capabilities. The work employs a voxel-basedapproach to designing and optimising complex wood structures, utilising computationalstress analysis to determine material layouts reflecting the reclaimed stock. The physicalconstruction voxels, with specific material strength and fibre orientation, are laminatedinto a functionally graded composite structure, namely the Re-VoxLam Truss. Thisprototype is demonstrated as a proof-of-concept of the proposed approach fordecarbonising construction and upcycling wood waste.