Institut für Leichtbau Entwerfen und Konstruieren

Main Activities

In research and teaching the institute combines the dominating field of architecture, namely design and form, with the main aspects of civil engineering – the fields of analysis and construction, as well as material technology. Based on a targetted and interdisciplinary procedure, the institute deals with the conceptual and material-comprehensive development of all kinds of construction methods and loadbearing systems. The scope ranges from modern building techniques using textiles and glass to the advanced possibilities of traditional reinforced and prestressed concrete. From the details to the entire system the aim is to optimize form and structure in view of material and energy expenditure, durability and reliability, recyclability and environmental compatibility. The results are published either in the institute's own bilingual book series (IL) or in separate research reports about special subjects.

Lightweight Structures

with foils, fabrics, nets, ropes and rods, made of synthetic, metallic and natural materials, e. g. tents, pneumatics, cable nets, grid shells, tree columns and hybrid systems, for permanent and temporary applications and for stationary, convertible and mobile utilizations. Architectural and structural design, formfinding, engineering, manufacturing, loadbearing behaviour. Experimental and computer-aided methods. Processes and principles of form generation for objects and structures in nature and technics. Bionics in architecture. Feasibility studies, consulting, expertises. Collaboration in international organisations of architects and engineers. (predominantly at Location 2)

Concrete Structures

with reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete and masonry, made of high-performance concrete, self-compacting and fiber-reinforced concrete, e. g. high-rise buildings, towers, storage tanks, bridges, shells and hybrid systems. Structural design and analysis, loadbearing behaviour. CAD- and FE-methods. Consulting and expertises. Collaboration in code committees and in international organisations of engineers. (predominantly at Location 1)

Hot-Water Tanks for Seasonal Storage of Solar Heat

Development of economic, large-scale storage tanks for solar heat supply with central seasonal heat-storage: present investigations include tests of high-performance and ultra-high-performance concrete, the design of new types of hot-water heat storage tanks, and the development of a standardized storage tanks.

Building Management System

Development of a network-based expert system to record the state of federal engineering structures and to give a prognosis about the future requirements for maintenance including the necessary strategies. Development of modules such as material-based damage models, determination of times of intervention, catalogues of maintenance measures and strategies as well as object-based maintenance optimization.

Building with Glass

Fundamentals and applications of glass as a structural material for plane and spatially curved building forms, development of appropriate loadbearing structures, detailing and fastening techniques for prestressed, laminated and reinforced types of glass. Appearance of glass buildings in architecture.

Adaptive Structures

Development of intelligent structures which – equipped with sensors and actuators, directed by an electronic control system react on variable exterior stresses by modification of rigidity and/or length of individual constructive elements. Minimization of weight by active influence on the flow of forces respectively on the static and dynamic loadbearing behaviour.

Conditioning Building Envelopes

Development of components and systems made of different materials (textiles, glass, plastics) which self-acting or controlled, by chemical or physical modification or manipulation – enable the enclosed space of buildings to adapt to changing exterior climate and weather conditions, concerning e. g. light transmission and temperature balance as well as properties of ventilation, acoustics and colours for the optimization of the interior climate, energy balance and utilization requirements.

Facilities

Experiment- and test-equipment for the formfinding of structures/intra-network connected to the University Computing Center, for form generation and structural analysis, for word-, graphics- and image-processing/library with approximately 5.000 volumes, comprehensive archives of photographs and literature on lightweight and concrete structures in architecture, civil engineering, technics and nature/studio equipment and laboratory for photography/ model- and mechanics-workshop. (at Location 2)

Planning and executing tests of constructive elements and units for the verification of structural analyses, and for official approvals and permits/development and production of specimens and prototypes/computerized test and measuring installations for registration, evaluation and presentation of data.

Target Groups:

Architects, civil engineers and specialized experts/public and private clients and user groups, project developers and investors/contractors for concrete structures, manufacturers of lightweight buildings, including materials and parts.

Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK)

Locations

Secretariat

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