An innovative approach to manufacture thin-walled glass fibre reinforced concrete for tomorrow's architectural buildings envelopes with complex geometries. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henriksen, Thomas; Lo, Stephen; Knaack, Ulrich
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 4(2015)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: GFRC -- GRC -- Complex geometry -- Bespoke -- Edge-returns -- Flexible moulds -- Thin-walled; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2015.09.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: Glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) elements have become a sought after cladding material since their introduction as rain screen cladding for buildings. To advance GFRC for a range of complex geometry building envelopes this also requires advances in existing moulding techniques for thin-walled GFRC elements. To do so it is necessary to define the current state of thin-walled GFRC elements and the constraints and limits placed on them by existing production techniques. This paper identifies the current architectural and aesthetic requirements of thin-walled GFRC elements and maps their range of complexity, from 1-D to 3-D, to the limits of the most appropriate production method. This will inform guidelines for the future design development of thin-walled GFRC and enable an innovative approach to further advance the moulding techniques for thin walled GFRC elements for a variety of complex geometry building envelopes. The paper concludes on which further steps need to be taken to advance thin-walled glass fibre reinforced concrete for tomorrow's architectural buildings envelopes with complex geometries. Highlights: We have identifies the current architectural and aesthetic requirements of thin-walled GFRC elements and maps their increasing complexity, from 1-D to 3-D, to the limits of the most appropriate production method. It inform guidelines for the future design development of thin-walled GFRC and enable an innovative approach to further advance the moulding techniques for thin walled GFRC elements for complex geometry building envelopes.