Extraordinary possibilities for future concrete structures

Abstract

Concrete, most widely used construction material, is a fluid that offers the opportunity to economically create structures of almost any geometry. However, this unique fluidity is seldom capitalised on, with concrete instead being cast into rigid prismatic moulds to create high material use structures with large carbon footprints. This paper will demonstrate how replacing conventional orthogonal moulds with a flexible system comprised primarily low-cost fabric sheets can utilise the fluidity of concrete to create extraordinary possibilities for highly optimised, architecturally interesting, building forms.

A state of the art on the structural performance of fabric formwork systems

“…conducted a feasibility studied on the casting methods of prestressed fabric formed beams and trusses using an AOP (automatic optimization process). Orr et al (2013a) and Ibell et al (2013) studied the feasibility of fabric formwork to create the extraordinary possibility of highly optimized architecturally concrete structures. Also, Feng et al (2013) described the feasibility of marine application of fabric formworks.…”