海角社区

Lin Receives NSF CAREER Award

Close up of a Mud dauberStudying Application of Mud Dauber Nests and Fungal Mycelia to Future Homebuilding Techniques

August 21, 2024 

BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥 Where some people see an eyesore that needs to be destroyed, 海角社区 Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Hai 鈥淭homas鈥 Lin sees inspiration for the future.

Lin鈥檚 latest research project, funded by a nearly $630,000 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, is taking characteristics from mud dauber nests and the root systems of fungi to design 3D-printed soil for sustainable, durable, and cost-effective earthen buildings. More than three billion people around the world live in earthen buildings, which are gaining popularity in Europe, Western Australia, Canada, and California because of their eco-friendly and cost-effective credentials.

鈥淢ud daubers are expert soil nest builders,鈥 Lin said. 鈥淢ud daubers carefully select the best type of soil for their nests, manage the moisture content of the soil to make it easier to work with, tap the soil repeatedly with their front legs and jaws to compact and make it stronger, and use the natural drying power of the air to harden the soil. Their nest shape is in clusters of tube-like cells, which make the nests light but strong, stable, and insulated.

鈥淭hese techniques can inspire modern earthen building construction using 3D soil printing. By applying similar principles鈥攃ontrolling soil and moisture content, compacting the soil with vibrations, utilizing natural drying processes, and designing cellular structures鈥攚e can significantly enhance the strength, stability, and efficiency of earthen buildings.鈥

So, how does 3D soil printing work?

The process begins by mixing soil with fungal spores and natural fibers, creating a soil-fungal mixture for optimal plasticity; printing and compacting the soil simultaneously; and allowing the fungal root structure to grow, reinforce, and waterproof the structure. Finally, the mixture dries, which further enhances the strength of the earthen walls.

鈥淭o increase efficiency, the method incorporates modular construction,鈥 Lin said. 鈥淭his means that tubular elements, inspired by mud dauber nests, are printed in a controlled environment and then assembled on-site to build the final structure. This approach not only enhances the durability and sustainability of earthen buildings but also speeds up construction and reduces waste. By combining nature鈥檚 wisdom with cutting-edge technology, this method offers a smart, eco-friendly way to construct the homes of the future.鈥

Lin acknowledges that the idea of living in an earthen building might evoke mental images of primitive or uncomfortable structures, but he鈥檚 quick to add that the type of structures he鈥檚 proposing are anything but.

鈥淓arthen buildings today can be as sophisticated and stylish as any contemporary structure, with the added advantage of natural insulation, excellent indoor air quality, remarkably small embodied energy, and a significantly reduced environmental impact,鈥 Lin said. 鈥淔ar from living in a 鈥榤ud dauber鈥檚 nest,鈥 you鈥檇 be living in a modern, eco-friendly home that鈥檚 designed with sustainability, comfort, and durability in mind. Essentially a home that鈥檚 built for the future, not the past.鈥

While the outcomes of this project could have a major impact on the future of housing and home building, the funding source behind it鈥攖he NSF CAREER Award鈥攊s sure to have a similar impact on the future of Lin鈥檚 academic career and is a reflection of his past work and achievements.

鈥淚鈥檓 extremely happy and grateful to receives this NSF CAREER Award,鈥 Lin said. 鈥淭his recognition marks a significant milestone in my career and provides a solid foundation for the next 5-10 years of my research and teaching endeavors. With this support, my research team and I can continue pursuing my long-term goal of advancing sustainable, durable, and cost-effective earthen buildings through innovative bio-mediated and bio-inspired processes. This award not only validates our efforts but also energizes us to push the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in sustainable construction.鈥

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Contact: Joshua Duplechain
Director of Communications
225-578-5706
josh@lsu.edu