Funicular Floor Design
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Author / Producer
Date
2023
Publication Type
Doctoral Thesis
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
This dissertation investigates the design of funicular floors, with attention
to their role in the building system, compliance with structural building
codes and construction requirements. It derives its motivation from the
need to develop more sustainable structural solutions to decrease the environmental
impact of the construction industry, and aims to provide a valid
alternative to traditional floor systems.
The objectives of this research are to define methods and tools for the design
of funicular floors, to scale this system to real building applications,
and to explore its potential impact in the construction industry. This is
achieved through the extensions of currently available form finding methods
and analysis tools as well as the design and fabrication of real scale
demonstrators.
The first part of this dissertation introduces the funicular floor system,
highlighting its benefits and limitations, and defines the open questions that
prevent it from being a viable alternative to well-established slab systems.
Part II systematically addresses the design of a funicular floor. It provides
methods and procedures for addressing functional issues beyond the structural
support of the building occupancy, such as fire, vibrations, acoustics,
redundancy, ductility and diaphragm action.
Finally, Part III presents several full-scale funicular floor applications and
analyses how this technology could potentially impact the construction industry.
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Publication status
published
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Editor
Contributors
Examiner : Block, Philippe
Examiner : Van Mele, Tom
Examiner : Baker, William F.
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
ETH Zurich
Event
Edition / version
Methods
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
Funicular design; floor systems; computational design; TNA; Thrust Network Analysis; CONCRETE FLOORS + HOLLOW BLOCK FLOORS (BUILDING ELEMENTS); Concrete; Discrete element method (DEM); Finite Element Method
Organisational unit
03847 - Block, Philippe / Block, Philippe
Notes
Funding
-- - NCCR Digital Fabrication (SNF)