Material parameters and digitally informed fabrication of textured metals

The research represented in this paper proposes to reinvestigate the relationship between structure and appearance through a performative analysis of textured stainless steel, as verified through full-scale prototyping. The work takes a scientific design approach while incorporating a computational workflow that is informed by the material’s physical parameters, and draws a connection between the scales of molecular composition to large-scale geometric systems. Furthermore, the work attempts to provide evidence for thin-gauge textured metals as a high performance and adaptive material, by identifying structural rigidity and particular specular quality as inherent characteristics born from the texturing process. In addition, through close collaboration with the sponsoring manufacturer of textured stainless steel, we are able to gain access to material expertise and large-scale fabrication equipment not readily available to designers, thereby forging a mutually beneficial relationship surrounding the research.