Schlagworte: Topology Optimization, Generative Design, Connection Design, Circularity, Sustainability
Scope
Beverage cans are high-performance structures with outstanding stiffness and strength. The supporting material is optimally arranged around the outer circumference, thereby maximizing the area moment of inertia and bending resistance. Aluminum cans are also a symbol of the circular economy, as they can be recycled 100% and without significant loss of quality. Compared with primary production, recycling saves up to 95% of the energy. A different form of reuse is pursued here: in what is known as upcycling, beverage cans are transformed into mechanical support structures, maximizing not only mechanical properties but also resource efficiency. Purposefully designed connecting elements enable the integration of beverage cans with 3D-printed components into a novel robotic structure.