Abstract
Producing organic shapes in concrete has been a challenging problem since complex freeform buildings became a major trend in contemporary architecture. Many different techniques for casting doubly curved shapes have been proposed. Most of them produce elements which exactly match a preconceived design, but at a high cost in manufacture. Fabric formwork techniques (such as those pioneered at the Centre of Architectural Structures and Technology at the University of Manitoba (CAST)) are relatively economical, but require a form-finding approach which takes into account the physics of casting, as well as structural and functional requirements of the finished element.This thesis presents a specialised methodology for the design and manufacture of optimized concrete elements cast in fabric formwork. Using a novel software tool, the approach proposed in this thesis lies in between the largely intuitive methods reported by CAST and the precise but expensive manufacturing methods normally used in practice. Combining topological optimisation with computational formfinding, the software guides the designer towards a shape that is economical in both material and manufacturability.
By combining knowledge of computational structural analysis, optimisation algorithms, fabric simulation and the practical casting techniques of fabric formwork; this thesis bridges the gap between structurally optimized forms, and those developed intuitively by fabric casting.
A prototype software tool (FabricCast) specialized for the design of centrally supported slabs is presented in detail, with a few design studies realised using plaster scale models.
| Date of Award | 31 Dec 2021 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Paul Shepherd (Supervisor) & Paul Richens (Supervisor) |
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- Standard