Bearing and deformation behavior of structural elements of Infra-Lightweight Concrete under bending stress

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Mike Schlaich
• Subject Area: Structural Engineering, Building Informatics and Construction Operation
• Term: from 2014 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242293758

Infra-Lightweight Concrete is a High Performance Lightweight Aggregate Concrete which has very good heat insulating properties because of its very low dry density. Thus it is possible to build load-bearing and heat insulating monolithical structures. Although the bearing and deformation behavior of structural elements of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete is already known there are barely any research results available on the behavior of structural elements of Infra-Lightweight Aggregate Concrete.At the chair of conceptual and structural design at TU Berlin research on Infra-Lightweight Concrete is a major research field. Because comprehensive investigation on production, improvements on mixtures and handling have been conducted, suitable mixtures are now available. Infra-Lightweight Concrete was already used in exterior wall structures for a single family house and a wall mock-up for a Smart Material House which was awarded with an innovation price by the Holcim Foundation in 2012. The aim is to systematically investigate the load bearing and deformation behavior of structural elements of Infra-Lightweight Aggregate Concrete under bending stress and to publish the results for further research and for structural design. This includes the investigation of the Ultimate Limit State, the crack behavior as well as the tension stiffening until collapse. Constitutive equations for numerical calculations will be provided and verified using moment-curvature-relations and finite element calculations.The greater aim of this project is to move forward in establishing energy-efficient and sustainable architecture and enable to build monolithic structures which can easily be recycled. Therefore, the principles for structural design of bending elements of Infra-Lightweight Concrete will be developed.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants