FlexiForm

The project "FlexiForm’' aims to revolutionize the construction industry by significantly reducing material usage and embodied carbon in new concrete structures. The project leverages the structural and material efficiency of double-curved geometries, combined with the innovative use of lightweight 3D knitted textile formworks, to develop sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable structural solutions. By combining innovative materials with advanced design processes, FlexiForm opens new possibilities for the sustainable production of concrete structures, supporting both new construction and retrofitting in existing built environments.

To achieve these goals, the project will develop a fully integrated computational workflow that connects structural design, material behaviour modelling, and fabrication. This workflow will account for the unique mechanical properties and deformation characteristics of knitted textiles, ensuring both design precision and structural reliability. By incorporating material and fabrication constraints directly into the design process, FlexiForm reduces reliance on specialized knowledge and physical prototyping. The project will also establish an open-source material database and form-finding method for knitted textile formworks, supporting the broad adoption of sustainable construction practices.

Collaborators:
Anass Kariouh, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Pierluigi D'Acunto, Professorship of Structural Design, School of Engineering & Design, Technical University Munich

Valentin Lorenzen da Silva, M.Sc., Nikoletta Christidi, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Mariana Popescu, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

Industry partners:
Lucian Perescu, Constructim SA

Funding programme:
HORIZON – EIC | Project ID: 101162376 | Call: HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01

Duration:
2024-2028