Designing Matter

Autonomously shape-changing granular materials are investigated as architectural construction materials. They allow the embedding of different mechanical behaviors in the same material system through the design of their component particles. Granular materials are defined as large numbers of individual elements of larger than a micron. Because they are not bound to each other, only the contact forces act between them. The design of individual particles affects the behavior of a granular substance composed of such materials. The design process involves the definition of the form and materiality of the particle in relation to the desired function of the granular material. If shape-change materials are deployed in the making of the particles, the granular material can have more than one designed behavior, for example, both liquid and solid phases. Autonomously shape-changing granular materials have seldom been explored in either architecture or granular physics. Thus their exploration is both a relevant and a novel contribution to the field of granular architectures in specific and computational architectural design in general. This article outlines the field of autonomously shape-changing granular materials and embeds them in the current state. Experimental and simulation methods for the development of shape-changing particles and granular materials are introduced. A case study on the development and testing of autonomously shape-changing particles made from a bimetal is also presented. Further research is outlined with respect to the practical, methodological, and conceptual development of an autonomously shape-changing designed granular material.