SPP 1542:  Future Concrete Structures Using Bionic, Mathematical and Engineering Formfinding Principles

Before concrete is hardening it is plastic to liquid and can preserve almost any shape in the setting process. The possibility of free shaping when using reinforced concrete for construction is thus given. However, today the design language of ordinary reinforced concrete structures is very easy, especially for cost reasons. Plane surfaces and rectangular geometry are the rule. We have two main objectives: (1) The goal is an aesthetic change of paradigm, because the expansion of the spectrum of the usual forms of concrete increases the possibilities of design in building with concrete. The buildings should be functional, while allowing variable uses.
(2) Lightweight building with concrete accordingly "form follows force" leads to a reduction in the dead weight of the components, saving of natural resources and energy in fabrication the building materials but also to a reduction in CO2 emissions.
Our aim is that relevant structural elements such as ceilings, walls, columns get their geometry according to the principle "form follows force" as a result of the given, but also influenceable force flow in the component. We want to find the constructive and theoretical basics for design, calculation and construction of free-form and lightweight designed concrete components.
Special focus will be the component-specific basic research. The whole buildable structures - shells, plates, columns - should be explored. The components, which are designed according to force fields are, ideally, minimum weight. Indications for effective bearing structures are offered by nature with the help of bionics.
Another focus is the development of formwork systems and building technologies for free-formed concrete structures. Joining technologies are in terms of deconstruction and reuse of (parts) of concrete structures of interest. In addition, appropriate calculation methods must be developed to design stability endangered structures safely.
The main objective of applied mathematical research - specifically of differential geometry - is to make the design language for the lightweight concrete describable and to analyse the force distributions and to define them mathematically.

DFG Programme Priority Programmes

• Adaptive Formwork System with Light Weight Membranes (Applicants Graubner, Carl-Alexander ;  Knaack, Ulrich )
• Additive manufacturing of free formed reinforced concrete elements by selective binding with calcium silicate cements (Applicants Gehlen, Christoph ;  Winter, Stefan )
• Automatisierte adaptive Schalungsmethoden zur Herstellung von Betonbauteilen mit gekrümmten Oberflächen (Applicant Sobek, Werner )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Curbach, Manfred )
• Cross Sectional Adaption for Rod-Shaped Element in Compression (Applicant Curbach, Manfred )
• Draft and production of double-curved lightweight concrete structures with bionic inspired force transmission elements by the use of flexible GFRP-formworks (Applicants Gelbrich, Sandra ;  Kroll, Lothar )
• Efficient automated production of multifunctional and graded building elements with mineralized hollow bodies (Applicants Garrecht, Harald ;  Sawodny, Oliver ;  Sobek, Werner )
• Flexible mehrschichtige GFK-Schalungen zur Herstellung von doppelt gekrümmten Beton-Leichtbauelementen mit stabilisierten Abstandsgewirken (Applicant Kroll, Lothar )
• Folded plate structures made of cementitious composites (Applicants Chudoba, Rostislav ;  Hegger, Josef )
• Formoptimierte filigrane Stäbe aus UHPC und korrosionsfreier CFK-Bewehrung für variable räumliche Stabtragwerke (Applicant Fischer, Oliver )
• From Jointing Systems to Light-Weight Structures: Hybrid, dry-fit beam, surface and spatial structures made of UHPFRC (Applicants Budelmann, Harald ;  Kloft, Harald )
• Funktionale Gradierung, Schalungs- und Herstelltechnologie unter Berücksichtigung der Segmenttopologie" (Applicant Gehlen, Christoph )
• Joining and design principles for two- and three-dimensional filigree trusses constructed of form-optimized UHPC rod members and corrosion-free CFRP-reinforcement (Applicant Fischer, Oliver )
• Konstruktion und Optimierung von Klebeverbindungen für Platten- und Scheibenbauteile aus ultrahochfestem Beton (Applicants Andrä, Heiko ;  Kohlmeyer, Christian )
• Koordination, zentrale Aufgaben und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit des SPP 1542 (Applicant Curbach, Manfred )
• Light, microreinforced UHPC shell structures optimised to deformations using the example of parabolic trough collectors in concentrating solar power plants (Applicants Mark, Peter ;  Schnell, Jürgen )
• Light weight biaxial slabs as bionic structures (Applicant Schnellenbach-Held, Martina )
• Lightweight ceiling structures made of layered high-perfomance concrete (Applicant Curbach, Manfred )
• Methods and Tools for Design and Fabrication of shell-like and thin-walled Concrete Structures with Line Geometry. Short Title: Thin-walled Concrete Structures with Line Geometry. (Applicants Lordick, Daniel ;  Schlaich, Mike )
• Model reduction and substructure technique - application to modular shell structures made of ultra high performance concrete (Applicant Reese, Stefanie )
• Non-Waste-Wax-Formwork: Novel precise formwork-technology on basis of 100% recyclable industrial wax for the fabrication of geometrically complex concrete elements (Applicants Dröder, Klaus ;  Kloft, Harald )
• Nonlinear Optimization of Geometrical Defined Joints for Spatial Curved Precast Concrete Components Considering Different Load Cases and the Influence of Material and Structural Behavior Aspects using Isogeometric Techniques (Applicant Bletzinger, Kai-Uwe )
• Optimalstrukturen aus funktional gradierten Betonbauteilen - Entwurf, Berechnung und automatisierte Herstellung (Applicants Reinhardt, Hans-Wolf ;  Sawodny, Oliver ;  Sobek, Werner )
• Research into the load bearing behaviour of light construction concrete slabs made by using Cross-Channel-Technology (Applicant Jäger, Wolfram )
• Sandwich constructions with thin folded and curved concrete layers (Applicant Hegger, Josef )
• Ultraleichte, dünnwandige stabförmige Betonhohlbauteile unter Querkraft- und Torsionsbeanspruchung (Applicant Empelmann, Martin )
• Wrapped Hybrid Tubes (Applicant Lohaus, Ludger )

Spokesperson Professor Dr.-Ing. Manfred Curbach