Shell elements of textile reinforced concrete using fabric formwork: A case study

Niki Cauberg, Tine Tysmans, Sigrid M. Adriaenssens, Jan Wastiels, Marijke Mollaert, Bachir Belkassem

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Innovations in formwork solutions create new possibilities for architectural concrete constructions. Flexible fabric replaces the stiff traditional formwork elements, and takes away a limiting factor for creative designs. Combined with textile reinforcement, the production of a new range of curved and organic shapes becomes possible without the intensive labour for formwork installation.Besides a general introduction about the concepts of fabric formwork and textile reinforcement, this paper focuses on the production and structural evaluation of doubly curved shells. Creating a very interesting type of element from a structural point of view, the shape flexibility of both the fabric formwork and textile reinforcement make a perfect match to overcome practical production issues for thin shell elements.The application of shotcrete and the integration of non-metallic reinforcement allowed first of all the production of very thin concrete shell elements based on the design approach of the textile architecture. Comparing a shell structure with traditional reinforcement and one with textile reinforcement, a case study evaluates furthermore both the design and the structural performance of such a shell structure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)677-690
Number of pages14
JournalAdvances in Structural Engineering
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

Keywords

  • fabric
  • formwork
  • glass fibre
  • manufacturing
  • shell element
  • textile reinforced concrete

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