Strategies in construction and assembly for the LightPRO Shell: An active-bending structure employing flax fibre pultruded profiles for sustainable architecture
The growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives within the construction industry has promoted the use of bio-based materials. This research highlights the innovative application of newly developed natural fibre biocomposite profiles in structural systems through the creation of the LightPRO Shell. These biocomposite profiles are manufactured using the pultrusion technique, commonly used for fabricating composites with synthetic fibres, however, these profiles were crafted from natural flax fibres. This research details the processes involved in realising a full-scale structural demonstrator employing the developed profiles. The chosen application spotlights an active-bending structure, emphasising the profiles' remarkable flexibility. This article focuses on the methods and techniques employed in the realisation of this structure, from the joint typologies and prefabrication of components to the final assembly of the entire system. Essential aspects of the construction phase and erection process of this lightweight structure are discussed. Additionally, it explores concepts related to assembly and disassembly strategies, providing a comprehensive overview of the construction phases. The realised structure serves as a proof of concept, showcasing the viability of integrating natural fibre biocomposites into structural systems while offering sustainable alternatives for the architecture and construction industry.
%0 Journal Article
%1 spyridonos2025strategies
%A Spyridonos, Evgenia
%A Dahy, Hanaa
%D 2025
%I Elsevier
%J Structures
%K 2025 Active-Bending Architecture Biocomposites Dahy Fibre Fibres Flax Lightweight Natural Profiles Pultruded Pultrusion Spyridonos Structures Sustainable biomat itke
%N 108296
%R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2025.108296
%T Strategies in construction and assembly for the LightPRO Shell: An active-bending structure employing flax fibre pultruded profiles for sustainable architecture
%V 72
%X The growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives within the construction industry has promoted the use of bio-based materials. This research highlights the innovative application of newly developed natural fibre biocomposite profiles in structural systems through the creation of the LightPRO Shell. These biocomposite profiles are manufactured using the pultrusion technique, commonly used for fabricating composites with synthetic fibres, however, these profiles were crafted from natural flax fibres. This research details the processes involved in realising a full-scale structural demonstrator employing the developed profiles. The chosen application spotlights an active-bending structure, emphasising the profiles' remarkable flexibility. This article focuses on the methods and techniques employed in the realisation of this structure, from the joint typologies and prefabrication of components to the final assembly of the entire system. Essential aspects of the construction phase and erection process of this lightweight structure are discussed. Additionally, it explores concepts related to assembly and disassembly strategies, providing a comprehensive overview of the construction phases. The realised structure serves as a proof of concept, showcasing the viability of integrating natural fibre biocomposites into structural systems while offering sustainable alternatives for the architecture and construction industry.
@article{spyridonos2025strategies,
abstract = {The growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives within the construction industry has promoted the use of bio-based materials. This research highlights the innovative application of newly developed natural fibre biocomposite profiles in structural systems through the creation of the LightPRO Shell. These biocomposite profiles are manufactured using the pultrusion technique, commonly used for fabricating composites with synthetic fibres, however, these profiles were crafted from natural flax fibres. This research details the processes involved in realising a full-scale structural demonstrator employing the developed profiles. The chosen application spotlights an active-bending structure, emphasising the profiles' remarkable flexibility. This article focuses on the methods and techniques employed in the realisation of this structure, from the joint typologies and prefabrication of components to the final assembly of the entire system. Essential aspects of the construction phase and erection process of this lightweight structure are discussed. Additionally, it explores concepts related to assembly and disassembly strategies, providing a comprehensive overview of the construction phases. The realised structure serves as a proof of concept, showcasing the viability of integrating natural fibre biocomposites into structural systems while offering sustainable alternatives for the architecture and construction industry.},
added-at = {2025-02-03T09:44:57.000+0100},
author = {Spyridonos, Evgenia and Dahy, Hanaa},
biburl = {https://puma.ub.uni-stuttgart.de/bibtex/2e6cd02d7da2b597c8a7b46ce51a85562/petraheim},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2025.108296},
institution = {Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE)},
interhash = {05f6d434e03152683c50735d50c27a38},
intrahash = {e6cd02d7da2b597c8a7b46ce51a85562},
journal = {Structures},
keywords = {2025 Active-Bending Architecture Biocomposites Dahy Fibre Fibres Flax Lightweight Natural Profiles Pultruded Pultrusion Spyridonos Structures Sustainable biomat itke},
language = {eng},
month = {02},
number = 108296,
publisher = {Elsevier},
school = {University of Stuttgart},
timestamp = {2025-02-03T09:44:57.000+0100},
title = {Strategies in construction and assembly for the LightPRO Shell: An active-bending structure employing flax fibre pultruded profiles for sustainable architecture},
volume = 72,
year = 2025
}
