Complex concrete casting: knitting stay-in-place fabric formwork

Popescu M., Rippmann M., Van Mele T. and Block P.
Proceedings of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) Symposium 2016
Tokyo, Japan
2016

This paper presents initial results of research focused on developing a novel type of formwork for concrete based on pre-stressed fabric formwork principles. It aims at creating geometries that are fabricated in one piece by knitting technical fibers, which could ultimately be used as reinforcement for concrete. This approach would result in a spatial textile that minimises the need for patterning, sewing, welding or gluing compared to a conventional approach to fabric formwork and textile reinforcement based on woven fabrics. It makes it possible to create directional material properties aligned to the internal force flow. This paper presents an overview of the proposed prefabrication technique and exemplifies its feasibility through small-scale experiments.