Principles of design and formation of a self-supporting skeleton in constructing buildings of complex geometric shapes with the use of shotcrete technology

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a tendency around the world to erect buildings of complex geometric shapes with the help of the latest 3D-modeling-and 3D-printing technologies to create unique architectural forms. At the same time the designers and civil engineers have got various technical problems associated with the production and decreasing the cost of formwork with complex geometry, with creation of reinforcement cages, including self-supporting ones, the process of concreting, etc. This paper shall consider the basic modern technologies used for the construction of buildings or their parts with a complex geometric shape. The article describes new architectural and construction system “Monofant” developed for constructing monolithic reinforced-concrete buildings and structures with complex geometric elements. The article stresses that non-removable inserts cavity-makers are used in them to reduce the weight of all the basic designs in a frame building. The article also shows the results of the design and formation of a self-supporting skeleton in constructing buildings of complex geometric shapes without the use of formwork. The design of the offered self-supporting core consisting of a spatial curved reinforced cage and non-removable inserts cavity-makers, allows building lightweight design with the use of sprayed concrete technology for formless concreting. The use of internal permanent formwork construction allows weight reduction while working with a complex geometric surface and increases the bearing capacity of the building or structure erected. The construction of complex architectural forms depends on the efficient use of shotcrete technology, as well as the application process in the formation of concrete mix design i.e. proper selection of technology and equipment for shotcreting.