GFRP Elastic Gridshell Structures: A Review of Methods, Research, Applications, Opportunities, and Challenges

Gridshell structures have the potential to develop the construction process of free-form structures, offering numerous benefits. These include the minimum use of materials, light-weighting, the creation of a large span structure, structural efficiency, organic shapes, potential for quick and cost-effective construction, column-free spaces, maximum transparency, sustainability, and ease of deconstruction and recycling. Gridshells, regarding their architectural potential and intrinsic geometric rationality, are well-suited for creating complex shapes. Hence, the properties of gridshells depend on the equivalent pre-stress of the two-dimensional grid that was deformed. The mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), such as high elastic limit strain, strength, and Young’s modulus, can further enhance the potential of gridshell structures. Gridshell structures offer numerous opportunities for constructing double curvature shells. However, they also present challenges, particularly in the design and construction process, while minimizing stress and preventing breakages of elements under the influence of forces. This paper presents a review of GFRP elastic gridshell structures, including design and construction methods. Additionally, a case study of an existing gridshell structure, the Solidays gridshell, is presented. Finally, the opportunities and challenges associated with gridshell structures are discussed.Journal of Civil Engineering and Materials Applicatio

Vers une architecture biophilique : matérialisation de la complexité formelle au moyen de structures en résille de bois

L'émergence des logiciels de modélisation a récemment conduit à une complexification des formes architecturales. Les processus de prise de forme sont maintenant pleinement intégrés dans l'univers numérique et il est désormais possible de décrire précisément des géométries aux multiples courbes à l'aide de l'ordinateur. Toutefois, lorsque des techniques traditionnelles sont employées pour construire de telles géométries, il en résulte une utilisation importante de ressources et un décuplement du temps de chantier. Dans ce contexte, les résilles en bois se présentent comme une solution crédible pour répondre à la matérialisation des formes issues des explorations numériques. En abordant les concepts de forme, structure, matière et lumière sous l'angle de l'architecture biophilique, cette recherche-création traite de l'intégration entre les bâtiments et leur environnement en abordant la génération de la forme architecturale. Plus spécifiquement, elle présente une classification de précédents de résilles en fonction de leur complexité et propose d'investiguer des treillis hybrides pour faciliter leur mise en place. Elle développe également une méthode constructive alliant des grilles souples aux membrures de petites sections combinées à un réseau primaire de composantes rigides. De plus, la recherche s'intéresse aux ambiances des résilles et suggère que la lumière puisse être un intégrateur de l'architecture biophilique. Enfin, la thèse avance que les résilles en bois devraient se démocratiser davantage, autant pour la réalisation de bâtiments singuliers que génériques.The emergence of modelling software has recently led to the complexification of architectural forms. Form-finding processes are now fully integrated into the digital world and it is now possible to accurately describe geometries with multiple curves using computers. However, when traditional techniques are used to construct such geometries, it results in a significant use of resources and an increase in construction time. In this context, timber gridshells present themselves as a credible solution to the materialization of shapes resulting from digital explorations. By approaching the concepts of form, structure, matter and light from the perspective of biophilic architecture, this research-creation deals with the integration between buildings and their environment. More specifically, it presents a classification of gridshells according to their complexity and proposes to investigate hybrid structures to facilitate their implementation. It develops a constructive method combining flexible grids with small section members combined with a primary network of rigid components. Moreover, the research evaluates the ambiences of gridshells and suggests that light can be an integrator of biophilic architecture. In short, the thesis argues that timber gridshell should become more democratic, both for the creation of singular and generic buildings

Fabricate

Bringing together pioneers in design and making within architecture, construction, engineering, manufacturing, materials technology and computation, Fabricate is a triennial international conference, now in its third year (ICD, University of Stuttgart, April 2017). Each year it produces a supporting publication, to date the only one of its kind specialising in Digital Fabrication. The 2017 edition features 32 illustrated articles on built projects and works in progress from academia and practice, including contributions from leading practices such as Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, Arup, and Ron Arad, and from world-renowned institutions including ICD Stuttgart, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton University, The Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) and the Architectural Association

Fabricate 2017

Bringing together pioneers in design and making within architecture, construction, engineering, manufacturing, materials technology and computation, Fabricate is a triennial international conference, now in its third year (ICD, University of Stuttgart, April 2017). Each year it produces a supporting publication, to date the only one of its kind specialising in Digital Fabrication. The 2017 edition features 32 illustrated articles on built projects and works in progress from academia and practice, including contributions from leading practices such as Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, Arup, and Ron Arad, and from world-renowned institutions including ICD Stuttgart, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton University, The Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL) and the Architectural Association

The benefits of an additional practice in descriptive geomerty course: non obligatory workshop at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade

At the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade, in the Descriptive geometry (DG) course, non-obligatory workshops named “facultative task” are held for the three generations of freshman students with the aim to give students the opportunity to get higher final grade on the exam. The content of this workshop was a creative task, performed by a group of three students, offering free choice of a topic, i.e. the geometric structure associated with some real or imagery architectural/art-work object. After the workshops a questionnaire (composed by the professors at the course) is given to the students, in order to get their response on teaching/learning materials for the DG course and the workshop. During the workshop students performed one of the common tests for testing spatial abilities, named “paper folding". Based on the results of the questionnairethe investigation of the linkages between:students’ final achievements and spatial abilities, as well as students’ expectations of their performance on the exam, and how the students’ capacity to correctly estimate their grades were associated with expected and final grades, is provided. The goal was to give an evidence that a creative work, performed by a small group of students and self-assessment of their performances are a good way of helping students to maintain motivation and to accomplish their achievement. The final conclusion is addressed to the benefits of additional workshops employment in the course, which confirmhigherfinal scores-grades, achievement of creative results (facultative tasks) and confirmation of DG knowledge adaption

The contemporary visualization and modelling technologies and the techniques for the design of the green roofs

The contemporary design solutions are merging the boundaries between real and virtual world. The Landscape architecture like the other interdisciplinary field stepped in a contemporary technologies area focused on that, beside the good execution of works, designer solutions has to be more realistic and “touchable”. The opportunities provided by Virtual Reality are certainly not negligible, it is common knowledge that the designs in the world are already presented in this way so the Virtual Reality increasingly used. Following the example of the application of virtual reality in landscape architecture, this paper deals with proposals for the use of virtual reality in landscape architecture so that designers, clients and users would have a virtual sense of scope e.g. rooftop garden, urban areas, parks, roads, etc. It is a programming language that creates a series of images creating a whole, so certain parts can be controlled or even modified in VR. Virtual reality today requires a specific gadget, such as Occulus, HTC Vive, Samsung Gear VR and similar. The aim of this paper is to acquire new theoretical and practical knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of virtual reality, the ability to display using virtual reality methods, and to present through a brief overview the plant species used in the design and construction of an intensive roof garden in a Mediterranean climate, the basic characteristics of roofing gardens as well as the benefits they carry. Virtual and augmented reality as technology is a very powerful tool for landscape architects, when modeling roof gardens, parks, and urban areas. One of the most popular technologies used by landscape architects is Google Tilt Brush, which enables fast modeling. The Google Tilt Brush VR app allows modeling in three-dimensional virtual space using a palette to work with the use of a three dimensional brush. The terms of two "programmed" realities - virtual reality and augmented reality - are often confused. One thing they have in common, though, is VRML - Virtual Reality Modeling Language. In this paper are shown the ways on which this issue can be solved and by the way, get closer the term of Virtual Reality (VR), also all the opportunities which the Virtual reality offered us. As well, in this paper are shown the conditions of Mediterranean climate, the conceptual solution and the plant species which will be used by execution of intensive green roof on the motel “Marković”