UHPC concrete and optical fiber for Media Architecture

Some years ago, a customer approached
us with the problem that he needed a
wear lining in a brown coal dust silo and,
if possible, in combination with a lighting system. The problem was that lignite
dust is highly explosive.

The solution we offered and executed
was a UHPC® wear protection liner in
which we inserted optical fibers. With
optical fibers we could have solved two
problems at once; first, the lighting and
second, the existing wear can not interfere
with the function of fiber optic lighting.

This combination UHPC® / optical fiber
was also used by a customer for illuminated
facade elements.

2001 First tests with UHPC / optical fiber elements

Here, too, environmental influences could
not hinder the function of optical fibers as
lighting. This system is completely
maintenance free.

Similar application ideas already had architects and designers for UHPC® ceiling panels and
wall panels. The advantage is architectural
and designer's view is that the lighting is not visible during the day. No matter which
geometry or surface structure the UHPC®
element has, the optical fibers are not visible. Another advantage is that optical fibers do
not generate heat.

Lamp design made of UHPC® with optical
fibers have already been manufactured.
Interior architects have designed bar counters
made of UHPC® and optical fibers.

Today, these solutions are used and further
developed, among other things, in Media
Architecture.

www.hhbc-consulting.de
info@hhbc-consulting.de 

 

UHPC Navy Concrete - Ferrocement

The technique of using fine wire mesh as a 
reinforcement for concrete (ferroconcrete) 
structures is already very old. This 
technique has been used above all in the 
manufacture of boat and ship hulls, simple 
construction elements and in the design 
sector.

Today, less so-called chicken wire mesh is 
used and more plastic and ceramic mesh is 
used, which exceeds the tensile strengths 
of steel several times over.

With UHPC (Ultra High Performance 
Concrete) Navy binder it is also possible to 
use very fine aggregates, which in turn make 
it possible to use very fine meshes. Modern 
high quality UHPC Navy materials are a 
multiple times superior to standard concrete 
in all technical values.


UHPC has been used in the offshore industry 
for more than 25 years as a construction 
material and as a corrosion protection material 
under the harshest environmental conditions. 
In many areas, UHPC is superior to steel and 
replaces it there.

UHPC Navy offers the professional navy 
architect, boatbuilder and shipyard a more 
than interesting alternative to steel, plastic 
and wooden constructions.
Production methods such as casting and 
spraying and the rapid development of 
strength can save enormous costs.


This new development also makes it possible 
to manufacture boats or ships in series. 
Special hulls are possible. UHPC designs for 
floating windmill systems are in production today.

 

Statement on Ferrocement	Statement on UHPC Navy
Ferrocement = Steel reinforcement plus   mortar concrete   Small dia high tensil steel rods sandwiched   between layers of wire mesh (chicken mesh)	UHPC Navy = Steel, cermic fiber or plastic fiber   reinforcement plus   Ultra High Performance Concrete   Extreme high tensil strength ceramic or glasfibre   mesh and ceramic rods
The shell structure of mortar and steel would   be sufficiently impermeable, strong and   impact resistant and with the right degree of   flexibility	The shell structure of UHPC Navy and   reinforcement would be high sufficiently   impermeable, extreme strong, very high impact   resistant and with a extreme high flexibility.
Ferrocement boats are produced in Britain,   Canada, South Africa, Hong Kong and USA	Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arabs Emirates
Ferrocement hulls do not rot, nor do such   marine animals as bores and tered worm   have any effect on the mortar	UHPC Navy hulls are absolutly sea water resistant, absolutly restinstant      against marine animals high dense structure and extreme high corrosions resistant
Ferrocement hulls are stronger than hull    build in wood or glassfibre	UHPC Navy hulls are much stronger than hulls in wood or glassfibre
A partical characteristic of ferrocement,   unlike others, is that if gains strength with   age rather than loose it.	UHPC Navy already reaches more than 70% of final strength after 48 hours and gain strength with age.
Ferrocement   Tensil strength 37 MPa   Compressive Strength 83 MPa	UHPC Navy Tensil strength 52 MPa+ or 755 psi (depends on reinforcement system)   Compressive strength 140 MPa+ or 2300 psi   (depends on reinforcement)
Ferrocement is high temperature resistant	UHPC Navy is very high temperature resistant. In a special high temperature resistant version UHPC Navy it temperature resistant up to 1200°C or 2192°F
Ferrocement has a very low thermal  conductivity	UHPC Navy has a low thermal conductivity in   combination. With special insulation aggregates   UHPC will have a extreme low thermal conductivity
Absence of maintenance cost for the hull	UHPC Navy hulls are maintenace free
A problem would be the difficulty of   achieving complete penetration of mortar   through the mesh matrix	UHPC Navy mortar, spray and castable products are selfcompacting. The penedration through the mesh is nearly to 100%
Portland cement, Slag cement	UHPC Navy Binder
Water/cement ratio 0,35	Water/ cement below 0,25
Aggregate: Sand which pass 3/16 in sive	Aggregate: 0 – 3 mm Quarzsand or insulation   material in the same grain size or desert sand
Mixing ratio cement : aggregates 1:2	Mixing ration UHPC Navy binder : aggregates 1:1
Density 2400	Density 2400
Admixtures: for improve workability,   durability, acclerate or retard setting and   hardening   Such admixtures are only introduced in   minute qualities to produce the desired   effect, therefor the degree of control must be   very high.	Admixtures are not necessary for UHPC Navy
Recommended mixer is that which has a   paddle attached to the inside of the drum to   keep the mortar mixing evenly.   The mixer is often referred to as a plaster´s   mixer	Pan pot mixer or shaft mixer
Min. boat size approx. 18 ft	Not known
Hull skin thickness 3/4 in	Hull skin thickness max. 3/4 in
Salary rates for mortar work very high	Labor costs much lower, installation as shotcrete, casting and mortar possible. UHPC Navy material is self-compacting.
No serial production possible	Series production easily possible

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPE DK International

Phone: 0049 176 601 73146
E-mail: info@wpe-dk.dk
Homepage: www.wpe-dk.com