JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #120 - April 2018 - 41

BUlLDlNG AND CONSTRUCTlON
BIM

Building lnformation Modelling (BIM) will bring
a paradigm shift in the construction industry
Glass fibre-reinforced polymers (GFRP) play an important role in
the building industry, competing with traditional building materials.
Carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) are particularly interesting
for highly-stressed parts in construction.

interview

dipl.-inG. boris peter,
Managing Partner Knippers Helbig
Advanced Engineering
dr.-inG. MAtthiAs oppe,
Director, Knippers Helbig
Advanced Engineering

JEC Composites Magazine:
Could you outline Knippers Helbig's
experience with composite materials in
construction and how you envisage the
future?

Boris Peter : When talking about
fibre-reinforced ceramics, fibre reinforced plastics, carbon or glass fibre,
we are always facing the same problem: they are non-standard components, which need an authorisation on
a case-by-case basis.
Let me explain this showcasing our
project for the acoustical reconstruction of the Staatsoper Berlin opera
house.
The design for the reconstruction of
the state opera house by HG Merz architects included improving the acoustics of the concert hall and optimizing
the reverberation time.
N°120 April 2018

First carbon concrete bridge of its kind worldwide in
Albstadt-Ebingen - (copyright photo: solidian GmbH)

They offer a variety of additional
features like excellent corrosion
properties, high dimension stability,
low maintenance, high durability,
load-bearing capability and a high level
of design freedom.

For this purpose, the top floor ceiling
had to be lifted by 4 m, thus creating
a reverberation gallery comprising reflective and sound-absorbing components.
The requirements related to the
load-carrying capacity and fire safety
were decisive to determine the choice
of the appropriate material.
Glass fibre-reinforced plastics did not
comply with the fire safety standards
and had to be replaced by fibre-reinforced phosphate-ceramics, which
were used for the first time ever in a
building structure.

/ jec composites magazine

Feature Building and Construction

he big potential of carbon in
lightweight construction is due to
the fact that the individual fibres
are aligned with the direction of forces.
The material in itself responds to the
stress factors, making it well suited for
a variety of applications.
However, the price factor is still an
impediment. Carbon fibres are much
more expensive than glass fibres. They
are used in CFRP blades, reinforcement
fabrics for concrete, ropes or membranes.
The major advantage is that they do
not corrode and they are lighter than

aluminium or steel. Research is trying
to optimize the series production of
composite parts to make them more
cost-efficient.
Glass fibre-reinforced plastics are by
far the largest material group in composites. More than 10 million tons are
produced worldwide, including around
2.8 million tons in Europe.
The worldwide demand for carbon
fibre-reinforced plastics was estimated
at 112,000 tons in 2017, including
around 38,000 tons for Europe (Carbon
Composites e.V. Market report 2017).
Their low weight is not the only advantage of composites compared to other
construction materials.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #120 - April 2018