Structural Development of Segmented Timber Shell Systems
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Beschreibung
In response to the growing global challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and urbanisation, there is an increasing demand for sustainable and material-efficient building systems. Segmented timber shell systems offer a promising solution by combining modularity, structural lightness, and the efficient use of renewable materials with advanced digital design and fabrication technologies.
This dissertation develops an integrative structural design methodology to advance segmented timber shells as viable solutions for large-span architecture.
Chapter one introduces the research motivation and context, establishing the relevance of segmented timber shells as a
future-oriented building system. Chapter two reviews the state of the art, tracing the evolution of shell structures and highlighting
the potential of modular, lightweight timber construction within sustainable architecture. Segmented timber shells synergise these
fields as a contemporary alternative in the context of an evolving built environment.
Chapter three formulates three Research Objectives (ROs) addressing key challenges in the design, engineering, and construction of segmented timber shells. These objectives form the basis for the Research Methods (RM1–RM3) outlined in chapter four, which translate them into fundamental developments and innovations for integrative structural design of segmented timber shell systems.
The core contributions are documented in peer-reviewed
publications, each supported by full-scale demonstrators: the ITECH Research Demonstrator 2015–16, the Urbach Tower, the
BUGA Wood Pavilion, and the livMatS Biomimetic Shell. Chapter five summarises these publications and their contributions to the overarching research framework.
Chapter six discusses the research results (RR1–RR3), demonstrating the structural viability, life cycle performance, and
industrial scalability of segmented timber shells. The work shows how interdisciplinary co-design, performance-driven structural assessment, and automated prefabrication strategies enable the realisation of modular, lightweight timber shell structures.
Finally, chapter seven concludes with a critical reflection on the contributions and limitations of the research and outlines
the future potential of segmented timber shells in large-scale architectural applications, bridging the gap between experimental
research and construction practice.
Autor*in
Simon Bechert