Finite Element Method applied to structures
Tool in architecture and construction to solve complex problems in an efficient and precise way.
The future in architecture and construction: bio-concrete
Bacillus bacteria produce calcite when they come into contact with water, so that they close small cracks.
Design with glass as the supporting structure
A material that leaves designers free to create sensations of weightlessness and invisibility.
Application of UHPC to urban furniture
A highly durable, low-maintenance material that opens up endless design possibilities.
The world’s tallest hybrid tower (+video)
A hybrid tower project that gathers up the past of the city of Sydney and projects it towards a sustainable future.
MIT creates a new material that grows, strengthens and self-repairs with CO2
Engineers at MIT have created a material that grows, strengthens and self-repairs by extracting carbon dioxide, through a process similar to the way that plants incorporate carbon dioxide into their growth tissues. It is a polymer material that, should there be an imperfection or superficial crack, would self-repair the affected area just with the presence of the surrounding air and solar light or some type of interior illumination. This is a completely new concept in material science, that not only avoids the use of fossil fuels to create it, but it also has great benefits for the environment and climate, [...]
The new materials that are revolutionising traditional architecture
There’s no doubt that we’re at the height of the construction sector’s transformation: project management, augmented reality, BIM, ... but what we really should consider as a revolution is the development of new building materials and products. We’re not only talking about an aesthetic issue, but also improvements in the characteristics of the material, greater sustainability, cost reduction, safety, recycling ... and all this thanks to the research and development teams of institutes around the world and companies that are strongly committed to this revolution. Below we’ve outlined some of these materials, which will undoubtedly mark a milestone in construction. [...]
The concrete revolution
The concrete revolution is taking place and it’s aimed at turning this material into a lighter and more intelligent version of itself. Some months ago, researchers in Zurich’s Polytechnic School, launched a video showing the development of a concrete structure with a core of enormous steel cables, held with metallic nodes. [cmsmasters_embed shortcode_id="9u4q6u7d6m" link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1EcBCurqc" wrap="true" animation_delay="0" classes="sombranews"] These specially designed nodes, mark the innovation of a construction system that allows the creation of complex geometries. Thanks to an algorithm, the cables can be tensed and un-tensed according to the structure’s needs to distribute the loads towards the ground. Then a [...]
Self-repairing concrete
The use of concrete as a construction element takes us back to the Roman Empire – many of their buildings still stand today – however this material began to be used in the way with which we are familiar today, from the 19th century onwards. From its first use, humans have investigated the way of perfecting its characteristics through testing, additives, different application methods and combining it with other materials. This evolution, however, has not been able to stop the deterioration of concrete structures that are subjected to environmental agents, earth movements and all kinds of wear; with high repair [...]
