FKV@FDM
| Project Title | FKV@FDM |
| Project Subtitle | Development of lightweight support profiles made of fibre-reinforced cover laminate on a 3D-printed plastic core |
| Project Leader |
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Engelmann (TU Dresden) |
| Researcher | Dr.-Ing. Jan Wünsch (TU Dresden) |
| Partners | FIBER-TECH Construction GmbH ISP Institut für tragende Kunststoffkonstruktionen GmbH |
| Funding | BMWK – Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) |
| Time Span | 2024-2025 |
Project Description
Lightweight construction is widely used in the construction industry today. For standard applications, such as load-bearing structures made of pultruded GRP profiles, these solutions can compete with steel structures in terms of price and can also score points for their advantages such as low weight, good weather resistance and low maintenance requirements. When lightweight structures are required as load-bearing structures or for building envelopes that are geometrically complex or only required in small quantities, this often leads to project abandonment or significant changes in design methodology and material selection. One reason for this is often the significant additional time and cost involved in production, for example for the necessary mould making. If these additional costs are taken into account in the planning phase of the construction project, unusual design solutions are possible.
The aim of the research project is to develop large-format lightweight structural profiles (bending beams, supports, tension members). These consist of a contouring 3D printed plastic core with an enclosing fibre reinforced skin laminate. The 3D-printed plastic core significantly increases the shape and complexity of the load-bearing profiles. The FDM printing process is already being used successfully to make moulds for lightweight structures. The project idea goes one step further. The core structure is to be fully involved in the load transfer through the material bond with the cover laminate. This is made possible by the use of new load-bearing short fibre reinforced plastics that remain dimensionally stable under thermal stress. Due to its higher stiffness and strength, the cover laminate, which is made of fibre-reinforced plastic, takes over most of the load transfer. The surface of the cover laminate is exposed to the weather and its good resistance protects the entire material composite.
Contact Person TU Dresden
© Franziska Rehde
Research Associate
NameDr.-Ing. Jan Wünsch
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Institute of Building Construction
Institute of Building Construction
Visiting address:
ABS 30, Haus 116, Room 06-021 August-Bebel-Straße 30
01219 Dresden
© Franziska Rehde
Professor of Sustainable Building Construction
NameProf. Dr.-Ing. Michael Engelmann
Head of the Institute of Building Construction
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Institute of Building Construction
Institute of Building Construction
Visiting address:
ABS 30, Haus 116, 06-018 August-Bebel-Straße 30
01219 Dresden