The second phase of 3D printing involved rotating the first part of the already printed base 180º, using cranes and fixing mechanisms, and subsequently using the base to print the upper part of the artificial reef. This part is more complex in terms of design...
The first phase of manufacturing the artificial reef in cement involved the 3D printing of the base. This was a lengthy process of development, research, and prototyping to determine the printing code, the mortar used, and the supporting metal structures in this process. In this...
The initial 3D extrusion printing trials aimed to validate the shape, consistency of the mortar, and material strength. The first test using this method was carried out with ceramic mortar due to its easier printability and good filament resolution in this early experimental phase, prior...
Various tests were conducted to determine the proportions for the developed mortar, which is composed of mussel shell, metakaolin, and CEM I cement. To identify the right mix composition and ratio, a piping bag was used for manual extrusion to assess the consistency needed before...
The creative process involved exploring various shapes that could meet the established goal: Modular design: To allow scalability in implementation, depending on the restoration needs of each habitat. This feature, with its hexagonal base, enables the creation of a more complex ecosystem when multiple pieces are...
The primary inspirations for the creation of the formal concepts come from nature. Various coral shapes served as a source of inspiration for the development of the artificial reef design. The main objective of this phase of the project is to create a biomimetic structure...
The initial prototypes developed aimed to create shapes that mimic patterns found in nature. However, since they were intended for the production of silicone molds (to facilitate the creation of multiple copies for each test conducted), it was necessary to simplify the design, particularly regarding...
