Tessellated Structural-Architectural Systems: Concept for Efficient Construction, Repair, and Disassembly

Abstract

This paper introduces a tessellated structural-architectural (TeSA) wall system concept with the potential for improving both resilience and sustainability of the built environment. Resilience requires fast recovery and restoration of building functionality after an extreme event, while sustainability seeks designs that facilitate building adaptability and reuse for long-term occupancy. TeSA wall systems are comprised of individual, interchangeable tile segments, which are arranged in tessellated (repetitive) patterns. TeSA walls provide a resilient and sustainable solution wherein tiles can be prefabricated, reconfigured, disassembled, and reused during the lifetime of a structure. This paper introduces the TeSA concept through preliminary physical and analytical studies. The physical test involved a beam made of interlocking tessellated acrylic tiles, which was loaded to failure. The analytical study featured two reinforced concrete TeSA shear walls under lateral loading. The physical test showed that damage can be localized within individual tiles that can be replaced to restore loadbearing capacity. The analyses showed that TeSA shear walls can provide ductility and localized damage in individual tiles. Recommendations for advancing the TeSA toward implementation are also discussed.