Tutor: Andrei Jipa, Angela Yoo, Georgia Chousou

Industry Partner : Bekaert AG

Ultra-High performance fibre reinforced concrete is concrete containing fibrous material that increases its structural performance. Compared to other methods of reinforcement, fibres provide a greater flexibility in their use, as they offer fewer restrictions regarding the type and shape of the formwork. This has allowed for the creation of more filigree and free forms of concrete architecture. The optimal contribution of the fibres in terms of structural strength is when they are oriented along the direction of tensile stresses and can bridge cracks in the overall structure. Research on influencing fibre orientation in basic concrete architectural components has shown various factors affecting their alignment, with the flow of concrete casting itself playing a major role. However, no research or analysis has been done on the influence of complex formwork geometry on fibre orientation and distribution during the casting process. With further understanding of the behavior of fibres in these forms, and a more informed approach in their implementation, the limits of filigree concrete architectural components could be explored and pushed further.

The aim of this thesis is to focus on design possibilities of this technology. Through experimentations on 3D printed formworks, casting strategies and analysis of fiber orientation, the design and fabrication of slender concrete architectural components will become more informed, leading to the exploration of a new design language.