Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 280

Design Strategies for Material-Minimised Carbon Reinforced Concrete Structures—Principles of a New Approach to Construction

The aim of the CRC/Transregio 280 is to create new foundations for the construction of the future. The strategy development of CRC/Transregio 280 is aimed at developing innovative concepts and intelligent constructions made of carbon concrete. Suitable methods for design, such as modelling and construction with new materials, therefore require more in-depth basic research. The central source of ideas for construction element geometry is biology, primarily botany, but also the departments of mathematics and art. The aim is to develop construction forms made of mineral composites that transfer forces mainly by normal stress and are manufactured using new industrial machine-supported production methods.

Photo shows a visualisation for material-minimised carbon structures — Design Strategies for Material-Minimised Carbon Reinforced Concrete Structures—Principles of a New Approach to Construction

View of alternative, finely subdiveded internal structures of a concrete slab — Examples of internal structures of a concrete slab

The development of novel structures is linked to questions of manufacturability, product-related sustainability assessment and the further development of the composite material itself. New and innovative design strategies enable a completely different design language, reduce resource and energy consumption and at the same time ensure high serviceability, load-bearing safety and durability.

The approximately 50 researchers at the Technische Universität Dresden, RWTH Aachen University and the Leibniz Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V. combine excellent competences. The aim is to take on an internationally visible pioneering role in research into material-minimised construction with carbon fibre-reinforced mineral materials.

The German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) has been funding the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio 280 since July 2020.

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Dates from CRC/Transregio 280

More events

03/14/2024 -
03/15/2024

Scientific mini-workshop SFB/TRR280

Architectured Materials: Searching for a Common Ground for Mathematicians, Engineers, and Materials Scientists

11/06/2023

Scientific Workshop SFB/TRR280

09/27/2023 -
09/29/2023

Autumn Colloquium CRC/Transregio 280

09/26/2023 -
09/27/2023

62nd Research Colloquium and 10th Annual Conference of the DAfStb

Inspiration

Scientists from botany, mathematics, mechanics, statics and scientific architecture provide the impetus for the development of visionary building forms.

The deliberate combination of these scientific fields makes it possible to use not only biological (botanical) models for the development of efficient load-bearing structures, but also mathematical methods and different art forms as a source of inspiration.

Components

The research focuses on the investigation and further development of the components of the material composite carbon reinforced concrete. This includes research into alkali-activated binders and new reinforcement structures based on carbon fibres.

Structural Elements

Project area C is a central aspect in the research and development of design strategies for material-minimised carbon reinforced concrete structures. Using mathematical-geometrical algorithms and mechanical-building knowledge, new material-minimised and highly load-bearing carbon reinforced concrete components are created, as well as tools for their analysis.

Manufacturing

The focus is initially on two principles for the production of material-minimised carbon concrete. Generative manufacturing through selective material deposition of mineral matrix and carbon reinforcement and the development of methods for the three-dimensional analysis of carbon reinforced concrete structures, e.g. by means of computer tomography. Knowledge of the internal morphology of the composites and components is used to further develop the manufacturing process.

Sustainability

Researching and ensuring sustainability plays an important role in future-oriented construction with material-minimised carbon concrete structures. In addition to the further development of sustainability assessments and sustainability predictions, Project Area E assumes an overarching advisory function in terms of environmental awareness for all research areas in the CRC/Transregio 280.

Accompanying Projects

The project areas A to E are accompanied and supported by the subprojects S, INF, Ö, Z. They supervise the handling of the data generated in the CRC/Transregio, support special measurements (tomography), and ensure the smooth running of the organisational and public work.