Folded sandwich structures retain the streamlined construction of existing prefabricated systems but can additionally be fabricated with non-specialist and low-cost manufacturing plant. Such a system enables the establishment of a distributed local manufacturing network across regions previously affected by natural disaster, to enable investment in their long-term economic recovery while responding to the short-term infrastructure needs of recently-affected communities.

The ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award #DE160100289 (2016-2018) enabled a new study into the structural design and distributed fabrication of folded sandwich structures, to support their use for resilient community infrastructure. In 2017, a new prototype Plate House was been succesfully developed using new digital fabrication techniques for FRP-timber construction and using new findings into the structural mechanics of press-fit timber connections. PhD Candidate Yousef Al-Qaryouti was awarded the Dow Sustainability Innovation Challenge Award (SISCA) for the design.

Please see the Digital Fabrication research page for more information.