A bending-active gridshell as falsework and integrated reinforcement for a ribbed concrete shell with textile shuttering: Design, engineering, and construction of KnitNervi

This paper presents a formwork system consisting of a bending-active gridshell that simultaneously serves as falsework and integrated reinforcement for realising a ribbed funicular concrete skeleton shell. Encased by a knitted textile shuttering, the formwork system was demonstrated through KnitNervi, an architectural-scale, funnel-shaped...

Design-to-Fabrication Workflow for Bending-Active Gridshells as Stay-in-Place Falsework and Reinforcement for Ribbed Concrete Shell Structures

Facing the challenges of our environmental crisis, the AEC sector must significantly lower its carbon footprint and use of first-use resources. A specific target is the reduction of the amount of concrete used. Funicular structures that base their strength on their structurally-informed geometry allow for material efficiency. However, a...

Non-linear finite element analyses applicable for the design of large reinforced concrete structures

In order to make non-linear finite element analyses applicable during assessments of the ultimate load capacity or the structural reliability of large reinforced concrete structures, there is need for an efficient solution strategy with a low modelling uncertainty. A solution strategy comprises choices regarding force equilibrium, kinematic...

Renovating a Fusee Ceramique Barrel Vault

This paper describes a proposal to renovate a Fusee Ceramique Barrel Vault with steel diagonals In 1956 two workshops, varying in height and span, were built in Wormerveer, The Netherlands. Both workshops were roofed with a concrete barrel vault with a thickness of 110 mm. The cylindrical vaults were constructed with Fusée Ceramique elements. A...

Solar updraft tower - structural optimisation under dynamic wind action

A solar updraft tower is a type of power plant which uses solar irradiation to generate electricity. It consists of three elements: a solar air collector, wind turbines and a chimney. The proposed concepts for this chimney schematise it as a 1-km-tall reinforced concrete shell, which are vulnerable to resonance induced by storm actions. This...

Scanning in 3D and analysing the models of Heinz Isler, the preliminary results

During his live Heinz Isler built around 1400 shell structures, until he deceased in 2009. Heinz Isler is part of a Swizz tradition of structural art in the 20th century, which includes engineers such as Robert Maillart, Othmar Ammann und Christian Menn [1]. During his live Heinz Isler developed several methods for physical form finding of his...

Concrete shell structures revisited: Introducing a new 'low-tech' construction method using vacuumatics formwork

This paper provides a new perspective on the construction process of concrete shell structures and introduces a new cost saving approach for constructing (single curved) concrete shells using Vacuumatics formwork.