Lightweight Structures in Architecture (1)

Office for Lightweight Structures in Architecture Gartenstraße 7 / 86405 Allmannshofen 15.06.2014

Lightweight Structures in Architecture (1)

The principle need to reduce the overconsumption of building materials Dipl.-Ing. Joachim Heine Prof. Dr. Michael Heine Design and planning in architecture refers to actual design and layout of spaces. Classical architectural elements like construction are resulting in the selective arrangement of spaces with functionalities which are strongly influenced by the available materials. The manipulation and the use of light and shadows are one of the key elements to create modern architecture. Since the beginning of architecture any buildings were influenced by necessity. Ancient cultures needed directly to reflect impressive and functional spaces to pay homage to empires and religious traditions. The upcoming need for shelter resulted in urban design and architecture by building massive cities.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Machu_Picchu_100th_Anniversary.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/O_Partenon_de_Atenas.jpg

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Lower_Manhattan_Skyline_March_2001.jpg

The actual architecture more and more is based on modern aspects like environmental footprint and energy efficiency which necessarily requires lightweight constructions in all future buildings. New materials like polymers and carbon fibers which differs clearly in weight to classical materials like stones, clay, burnt brick, wood and glass asks for new competences and grasp of mathematics, engineering and science. Such lightweight materials are just in the beginning of being recognized by architectural design although being known since decades. During the 2nd half of 2009 Prof. Dr. Hansjürg Leibundgut, Head of the Building Systems Group at the ETH Zurich, along with assistant Forrest Meggers, coordinated a unique collaboration with experts in architecture and engineering from around the globe to produce a draft paper on reducing CO2 emissions from buildings. Sheila Kennedy of the USA, Menghao Qin of China, Mike Schlaich and Werner Sobek of Germany and Masanori Shukuya of Japan generated a draft summary paper for the Holcim Forum workshop, “Reduce CO2 – With technology to zero emissions,” which covers the wide range of challenges to reducing emissions from building construction, operation and maintenance while also presenting an array of potential solutions. See also: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242723895_Reduce_CO2_-_With_technology_to_zero_emissions?ev=auth_pub

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One outcome of this first draft paper was the need for reduction of overconsumption of building materials. “There is extensive use of steel in large construction projects now without consideration for the large energy requirements for its production. Another principle building component that is also overused is concrete, with massive structures being built that could be achieved with a more ‘lightweight’ design. Also, the use of limited resources such as copper and others must be done such that they are recovered and not lost in waste streams. This requires an understanding of the concept of industrial ecology and how it can be applied to building material flows.” “There is a great potential in the field of lightweight building design. This minimizes the consumption of raw material for buildings. A typical residence in Germany contains enough grey energy in the materials to operate the building for 25 years [1]. The amount of materials that need a high quantity of fossil energy to be produced has to be reduced. Lightweight materials do not simply imply low density, but rather a high ratio of strength/density or stiffness/density. These materials must be favored. Lightweight structural and lightweight nonstructural systems must also be favored.” [1]. Sobek, Werner: “Nachhaltiges Bauen mit Stahl - Aufgabe für Architekten und Ingenieure”. Lecture held at the Internationaler Architektur-Kongress. Essen, Germany. Jan 13, 2010

What will be expected for the future ? Weight reduction of reinforced concrete During the13. Techtextil-Messe from 16.-18.06.2009 in Frankfurt/Main the German Center of Textile Fiber Reinforced Concrete (www.textilbetonzentrum.de) presented an innovative Composite Material “TUDALIT”, a carbon fiber reinforced concrete, supported by formation of a trade name association (tudalit.de) and followed by the integration into the company and scientific network “Carbon Composite e.V.” (http://www.carbon-composites.eu/en) and (http://www.cc-tudalit.eu/en) TUDALIT e.V. aims at widely communicating products made of or with textile concrete and applications for the reinforcement and maintenance made of or with textile concrete. Textile concrete is an innovative composite material, which opens up new possibilities in the building industry and in other areas of application.

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About one year ago, Carbon Composites e.V. (CCeV) created a workgroup which deals with “fiber composite in the building industry”. Under the direction of Prof. Dr.Ing. habil. Ralf Cuntze, first areas of work have already been examined, which need to be worked on in order to introduce fiber-reinforced building materials into the practice of building. At present these are used in particular in the sector of bridge building. By forming the “CC TUDALIT”, both partners particularly expect to get even more users (such as architects, civil engineers, designer, structural engineers) interested in the advantages of the new materials.

Textile Surface Reinforcement with Carbon Textile (http://tudalit.de/uploads/TUDALIT-2.pdf)

Carbon based Knitted Fabric [Source: V.Fraas Solutions in Textile GmbH] http://tudalit.de/uploads/TUDALIT7web.pdf

Demonstrator Test at RWTH Aachen 2012

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Weight reduction by new design concepts with additional functionalities Within the last years first concepts where developed to use inspiration from bionic structures for architectural design [2].

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259231914_Elastic_architecture_nature_inspired_pliable_structures?ev=prf_pub

Abstract: “At the interfaces of our mostly stationary architecture and surrounding nature we need to make constructions adaptable to ambient changes. Adaptability as a structural response to changing climate conditions, such as the intensity and direction of sun radiation, can be realised with deployable systems. These systems are often based on the combination of stiff compression members and soft tension members connected with hinges and rollers. Deployable systems in nature are often based on flexibility. This can be observed especially in plant movements. New construction materials such as fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) can combine high tensile strength with low bending stiffness, allowing large elastic deformations. This may enable a completely new interpretation of convertible structures which work on reversible deformation, here referred to as elastic or pliable structures. In a current research project the kinematics for such systems are derived from certain applicable plant movements.” [2] Lienhard J. (1,3) Poppinga S. (2,3) Schleicher S. (1,3) Speck T. (2,3) & Knippers J. (1,3)

1 Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE), University of Stuttgart, Germany, 2 Plant Biomechanics Group Freiburg, Botanic Garden,Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany, 3 Competence Network Biomimetics, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and Bionics

“Elastic architecture: nature inspired pliable structures” In book: Design & Nature V: Comparing Design in Nature with Science and Engineering, Publisher: WIT Press, Southampton, Boston, Editors: C. A. Brebbia, pp.469-477

Competence Network (BIOKON e.V.), Germany

Realized architectural design will be found at http://www.knippershelbig.com/:

EXPO-Pavilion 2002 with adaptable fiber reinforced fins to control solar radiation

http://www.badische-zeitung.de/bildung-wissen-1/flowerbauer--46001192.html

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