MORPHOGENIC 4D PRINTING: EXTRACTING EMERGENT GROWTH PATTERNS FROM SPATIAL DATA VISUALIZATION AND SIMULATIONS OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA PLANT CELL IMAGING TO INFORM THE DEGREE OF RESPONSIVITY FOR 4D PRINTING ON TEXTILES
This paper explores the construction of responsive fabrics that are given shape via additive manufacturing, specifically looking at 3D printing multi-material patterns inspired by the morphogenic behaviors observed in the young floral Arabidopsis thaliana onto pre-stressed fabrics. This fabrication method for form generation is considered 4D printing, a technique that leverages smart materials to optimize the morphology of the fabric post print. The aim for 4D printing is to provide a backbone, like that of a cell wall, for various structureless mediums such as fabric to transform into emergent 3D dimensional forms. The added complexity of form finding comes in the patterning of the 4D printing path that allows for varying levels of stiffness, multi-directional/unidirectional stretch, and dynamic behavioral properties. The materials used are each informed by the mechanical properties of plant cells which are generally fixed in mobility however, experience shape changing abilities to grow at varying rates due to spatiotemporal variations across the sepal. Altogether, the behaviors witnessed in the Arabidopsis thaliana have the potential of generating robust adaptive surfaces for architectural applications across various scales that leverage 4D printing for the production of emergent multi-material hybrid skins that respond to external stimulus to shape shift.