Jul 21, 2023
Boysen-TU Dresden Research Training Group explores the future of sustainable construction
Enrico Baumgärtel familiarizes the audience with the special properties of carbon concrete.
On June 29, 2023, the 4th generation of the Boysen-TU Dresden Research Training Group visited "CUBE Dresden", a pioneering research building of the TUD Dresden University of Technology. The purpose of the visit was to explore the innovative use of carbon fiber-reinforced concrete and its impact on sustainable construction.
The Boysen-TU Dresden Research Training Group visits CUBE Dresden.
The doctoral students were warmly welcomed by Mr. Enrico Baumgärtel. Mr. Baumgärtel, a member of the team at the Institute of Concrete Structures at TU Dresden, then introduced them to the remarkable features and design of the building, which is considered a pioneering achievement in the field of architecture. The CUBE is the world's first building made entirely of carbon fiber-reinforced concrete. This revolutionary approach replaces conventional steel reinforcement with lightweight carbon fiber elements, offering numerous advantages.
The inspiration for the design of the CUBE came primarily from the extraordinary properties of the material itself. The ultra-light fiber mats used for the carbon reinforcement have a textile-like texture, which enables the elegant and curved shape of the building. The architects' aim was to visually highlight the fabric-like nature of the carbon fiber inside the building. Additional protruding concrete wings on either side of the building act as free-standing walls to protect the interior and the adjacent garden from the busy intersection nearby. These wings could not have been realized with conventional reinforced concrete due to their slender proportions of only five centimetres thick and almost seven metres high. There were a number of challenges during the construction phase of CUBE, most notably preventing the outer walls from cracking due to the complex curved structure and the unique properties of carbon fiber reinforced concrete.
Aesthetic feature - the curved roof of the CUBE
CUBE illustrates the possibilities that carbon concrete offers in the circular economy. By eliminating corrosion of the steel reinforcement, the life of the building is significantly extended and ongoing research projects are focusing on the recyclability of carbon reinforced concrete to further reduce the environmental impact.
The Boysen-TU Dresden Research Training Group's visit to CUBE Dresden provided an invaluable opportunity to experience the future of sustainable construction first-hand.