Two-scale and single-scale models are used to analyse the response of reinforced concrete deep beams with different reinforcement layouts. To this end, a novel approach of modelling non-uniformly reinforced structures in a multiscale manner is developed. Parameterised generation of suitable unit cells is described, and the subdivision of problem domain into regions with different substructures is presented. Three different reinforced concrete deep beams with available experimental data are analysed. Mid-span deflections are slightly underestimated by both models, while the maximum load is captured reasonably well.

Leichte Stahlkonstruktionen aus Sandwichpaneelen sind eine gängige Lösung für Dach- und Wandkonstruktionen sowie Verkleidungen derselben. Aufgrund des hervorragenden Eigengewichts-/Lastverhältnisses, ihrer guten Wärmedämmeigenschaften, ihrer hohen Tragfähigkeit sowie des wirtschaftlichen Herstellungs- und Montageprozesses werden sie häufig eingesetzt. In einem interdisziplinären Projekt entwickelten Architektur-, Bauingenieur- und Maschinenbau-Institute der Technischen Universität Darmstadt ein Konzept zur Herstellung von Schalenkonstruktionen aus linear gefertigten, einachsig gekrümmten Sandwichpaneelen. Um den herstellungsbedingten, geometrischen Einschränkungen der Paneele eine maximale Verwendbarkeit zu gestatten, wurde eine Strategie entwickelt, die eine komplexe Gesamtgeometrie zulässt und die bereits im Planungsstadium greift.   Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt den Weg von der Formfindung über die numerischen und experimentellen Untersuchungen zum Tragverhalten bis hin zur Fertigung mittels eines kontinuierlichen Umformprozesses.

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Due to their excellent combination of space enclosing, heat insulating and supporting function, steel sandwich panels – mostly flat – are used for roofs and walls of standard industrial buildings. Because freely formed structures generally are playing an increasing role in contemporary architecture, curved sandwich panels would offer a high potential to architectural design. Simultaneously, the advantageous load‐bearing capacity could further increase the benefits of their usage. The necessary design strategy, the manufacturing technology for the curved cover plates and their overall mechanical behavior – all of these 3 main keys have been investigated in an interdisciplinary research project with architects, structural‐ and mechanical engineers. It has been one of the main goals in this project to find an applicable, efficient strategy for singularly produced panels (lot size 1: serial production with quantity = 1) in favour of a maximum flexibility for individual geometries.

Lightweight constructions made of sandwich panels became well established for roof and wall claddings of industrial structures. Due to their good heat insulation, their excellent weight to load ratio and high load-bearing capacity as well as the economical manufacturing and erection process, sandwich structures are build frequently. Besides the mentioned advantages the linear manufacturing process of sandwich panels usually limits the possible building cubature to rectangular shapes. In an interdisciplinary project, architectural, civil engineering and mechanical engineering institutes of Technische Universität Darmstadt are working on a design concept building shell structures with linear manufactured curved sandwich panels. A preliminary study indicates that arched sandwich beams have a high potential regarding the loadbearing capacity. The comparison between arched and single span sandwich beams shows that, even for asymmetric loads, resulting stresses in the two-hinged arches are significantly lower than in the related simply supported single span beams. To verify the results of the numeric study full-scale tests on curved sandwich panels will be performed. Furthermore, an assessment of the load-bearing behavior of the panels joints loaded with axial forces is planned. Based on the results further numeric studies will be conducted to investigate the behavior of whole shell structures following the developed design principle by taking into account realistic load cases for exemplary building applications, giving special attention to asymmetrical loads. Moreover, further research regarding the requirements for supporting structures as well as for the connection between the shell structure and the supporting structure is necessary to take into account the high axial forces, which are not common in sandwich structures.