Branching and axes in selected plant species as concept generators for high load-bearing joints of branched building structures

SFB-TRR 141 A06

Development of a bio-inspired knot structure as a compound of fiber-reinforced-plastic and concrete

Within project A06 of the Collaborative Research Center Transregio 141 plant branching principles, mainly stem-branch attachments, with regard to their functional principles and their transferability to technical applications were investigated. The applications envisaged within the project are supporting structures for construction industry. The manufacturing process for knot structures, as needed for structural designs, is very complex: It means that each geometry requires a mold whose production is very cost-intensive, so that flexibility, material savings as well as resource efficiency at this point are set aside and standardized geometries find application.

The branching of Schefflera arboricola and its finger-like branching structure was considered to be a particularly promising biological concept generator for fiber-reinforced branching structures with load-path adapted geometry and fiber arrangement.

Biological role model aralia (Schefflera arboricola) and concrete-filled, braided branched knot structure
Biological role model aralia (Schefflera arboricola) and concrete-filled, braided branched knot structure

A specially customized braiding technique, using a triaxial braid and adapted fiber orientations regarding the load-case of the final component, allowed to produce a fiber-reinforced plastic hull, which fulfils the requirements concerning material efficiency as well as flexibility regarding a load-path adapted external shape. The FRP hull serves as lost formwork for a filling with concrete (patent pending). Within the manufactured hybrid material component the two components complement each other optimally: In the application case, the hull transfers tensile forces due to fiber reinforcement and the concrete absorbs the pressure forces.

Tufted reinforcement pins to ensure a force and form fitting between FRP hull and concrete filling
Tufted reinforcement pins to ensure a force and form fitting between FRP hull and concrete filling

This material supplement is only possible if a form and force fitting of hull and filling can be guaranteed. The connection of the concrete filling to fiber composite plastic hull is ensured by reinforcement pins. In this context, the tufting process known from the carpet industry was adapted to produce fiber-reinforced pins (patent pending).

The 6.2 m high large-scale demonstrator shown within the exhibition "Baubionik – Biologie beflügelt Architektur" (October 2017 – May 2018) proves the applicability of the developed braiding process on a scale relevant in the building industries.

Braided Branch large-scale Demonstrator

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© ITKE, ITFT, PGB

This video shows the biomechanical investigation-methods for branched plant samples using the example of Schefflera arboricola as well as the concept studies, design and fabrication of the large-scale demonstrator of project A06: The large-scale demonstrator, a braided branched structure which spans an area of about 6 x 6 m², was displayed as part of the special exhibition "Baubionik – Biologie beflügelt Architektur" in Schloss Rosenstein at the Museum for Natural History Stuttgart, Germany.

Project Duration
Oktober 2014 – June 2018

Project Team
ITFT Institute for Textile and Fiber Technologies,
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Götz T. Gresser, Larissa Born, Claudia Möhl

ITKE Institute for Building Structures and Structural Design,
University of Stuttgart
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Knippers, Florian A. Jonas

PBG Plant Biomechanics Group,
University of Freiburg
Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck, Tom Masselter, Katharina Bunk

Publications within the scope of this project
Born L, Jonas FA, Bunk K, Masselter T, Speck T, Knippers J et al. Branched Structures in Plants and Architecture. In: Knippers J, Nickel KG, Speck T, editors. Biomimetic Research for Architecture and Building Construction. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2016, p. 195–215.

Born L, Möhl C, Milwich M, Gresser GT. Textile connection technology for interfaces of fibre-reinforced plastic-concrete-hybrid composites. In: DGM - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde e.V., editor. Hybrid - Materials and Structures 2018: Proceedings; 2018, p. 28–33.

Born L, Möhl C, Kannenberg F, Melnyk S, Jonas FA, Menges A et al. Semi-automated braiding of complex, spatially branched FRP-structures. Composite Structures 2021;276:114551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2021.114551.

Bunk K, Jonas FA, Born L, Hesse L, Möhl C, Gresser GT et al. From plant branchings to technical support structures. In: Knippers J, Schmid U, Speck T, editors. Biomimetics for Architecture. De Gruyter; 2019, p. 144–152.

Jonas FA, Born L, Möhl C, Hesse L, Bunk K, Masselter T et al. New branched loadbearing structures in architecture. In: Knippers J, Schmid U, Speck T, editors. Biomimetics for Architecture. De Gruyter; 2019, p. 153–162.

Möhl C, Born L, Küppers S, Jonas FA, Milwich M, Gresser GT. Manufacturing of branched structures for fibre-reinforced plastic-concrete-hybrid composites. In: DGM - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde e.V., editor. Hybrid - Materials and Structures 2018: Proceedings; 2018, p. 165–170.

Patents within the scope of this project
Born L, Gresser GT, Milwich M. Fibre Compound Component, Hybrid Component and Method for Producing a Fibre Compound Component: EP(3552807B1); 2019.

Jonas FA, Knippers J, Gresser GT, Born L, Milwich M. Branching Node for Building Construction and Method for Producing the Branching Node for Building Construction: EP(3460114 B1); 2018.

Funding
This research has been funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the Transregional Research Centre (SFB/Transregio) 141 ‘Biological Design and Integrative Structures’ / project A06

Further Information on the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) TRR-141

Contact

This image shows Larissa  Born

Larissa Born

Dr.-Ing.

Deputy Director

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