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Research senses stresses in advanced composite structures

29 Nov '16

2 min read

New research using data logged from sensors on a glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) structure at the 2016 Serpentine Architecture Programme in London, has found it is possible to sense stresses from real advanced composite structures such as GFRPs that are light, stiff, strong, durable materials which can be shaped to build large load-bearing structures.

Dr Wendel Sebastian, Reader in structural engineering in the department of civil engineering at the University of Bristol, led a project where sensors were distributed throughout the serpentine Pavilion, an 'unzipped wall' designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), which transformed from a straight line at the top to a three-dimensional curved structure lower down. The project logged data on the Pavilion structure's response to both environmental (wind, temperature) and gravity (self-weight) loads.

The decision to construct the Serpentine Pavilion from GFRP “boxes” was influenced by the fact that the specific GFRP material was both translucent and load-bearing. At 14 metres high, 26 metres long and over 12 metres wide, the translucent exhibition structure was designed for crowds of up to 200 people and was visited by thousands of sightseers throughout the summer.

Its advanced shape and assembly meant that the pavilion exhibited a complex and hybrid structural response – partly as a dome, partly as a frame – to applied loads. Safety factors were used in its design to ensure the structure was reliable.

Working closely with the contractor responsible for taking down the structure, Dr Sebastian was able to log data which gave insight into the stresses released by the structure during dismantling. Such stresses were locked into the structure from the beginning, owing to the need to overcome any lack-of-fit between the boxes during the original assembling of the Pavilion. In reality, random differences from tolerances stated on engineering drawings mean that lack-of-fit stresses, which can be particularly important for structures made from slender members, are also random and are therefore difficult to predict with confidence.

The research will be presented at next year's Advanced Composites in Construction (ACIC) conference. (GK)

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