Designing and prototyping of a reconfigurable segmented fan concrete shell as a flooring system
Mishael Nuh, Robin Oval, John Orr
TL;DR
This paper introduces a reconfigurable segmented fan concrete shell flooring system that is lightweight, carbon-efficient, and supports disassembly and reuse for sustainable construction.
Contribution
The novel segmented fan concrete shell offers reconfigurability and circular economy compatibility while maintaining structural efficiency.
Findings
Quarter-scale prototypes demonstrated structural viability and identified limitations for future development.
Embodied carbon analysis showed a 20% premium over non-reconfigurable systems but potential long-term savings with extended lifespan.
The system enables disassembly and reuse, aligning with circular economy principles for the built environment.
Abstract
A significant portion of the environmental impact of a building’s superstructure lies in its structural flooring. By leveraging funicular forms such as thin concrete shells, a materially and carbon-efficient alternative to bending-active flooring systems can be attained. In addition, through segmentation and the use of dry jointed interfaces, a segmented concrete shell allows for ease of disassembly compatible with circular economy principles for the built environment. This paper presents a novel segmented concrete shell flooring system that leverages the symmetry of revolution of the classical fan vault form to facilitate future design flexibility through increased reconfigurability. The design and form-finding of the segmented fan concrete shell are detailed through the use of an evolutionary algorithm and finite element analysis. Quarter-scale prototypes were digitally fabricated…
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Taxonomy
TopicsInnovations in Concrete and Construction Materials · BIM and Construction Integration · Structural Analysis and Optimization