ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Students at the Centre for Architectural Structures and Technology discuss tensile forces in fabric formed beams and columns (CAST 2007)
The first University Research Laboratory dedicated to architectural and structural use of fabric formwork was established by the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Architecture in 2002. The 510 square meter (5.600 ft2) Centre for Architectural Structures and Technology (CAST) was specifically designed and constructed for this purpose, representing a $1.5 million investment in fabric formwork research infrastructure by government and private industry.
University research in fabric forming has expanded rapidly since the founding of CAST, with research now funded by industry and government research grants for Masters and Doctoral level theses in architectural and engineering schools internationally:
Belgium
- Masters of Engineering Thesis on Textiles as Formwork for Concrete by Mr. Rafaël Philips, Vrije Universiteit, Brussel.
Canada
- Professor Mark West, University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture (CAST), (fabric-cast columns, beams, trusses, panels, walls, vaults, thin-shells and sculpture)
- PhD Engineering candidate Fariborz Hashemian dissertation on Structural Behavior of Variable Section Beams
- Mr. Farhood Delijani, Masters Thesis on Strength Gains in Concrete Cast in Permeable Fabric Molds
- Ms. Ann Miller, University of Toronto, Master of Architecture Thesis in Fabric-formed Structures, with Professor Brigitte Shim
Chile
- Architects David Jolly and Miguel Equem, Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Escuela de Arquitectura y Diseño (full-scale fabric-cast concrete columns and beams for a Studio Building project in the "Open City", Ritoque, Chile.
Denmark
- Ms. Anna-Mette Manelius, Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts, PhD Dissertation in Architecture on “Soft Concrete”
England
- Professor Alan Chandler, University of East London (fabric-cast walls)
- PhD candidate Kwang Guan Lee, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London
- Dr. Tim Ibel and M.Eng thesis student John Bailiss University of Bath Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Holland
- Delft University of Technology, Masters of Engineering Thesis on Optimized Geometries for Fabric-formed Beam Design by Mr. Diederik Veenendaal
- Arno Pronk, Assistant Professor, Building Technology, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Scotland
- Dr. Remo Pedrsechi, University of Edinburgh (fabric-cast panels, columns and beams)
- PhD Architecture student Daniel Lee, dissertation on Fabric-formed T-beam Designs
United States
- Mr. Shuji Suzumori, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Master of Architecture Thesis in textile formwork
- Robert Schmitz, RP Schmitz Consulting Engineers, Brookfield, WI (fabric formwork deflections in precast concrete panel construction)
INDUSTRY RESEARCH
Students prepare for compressive load testing of fabric formed beams (CAST 2007).
Industry research into applications of fabric forming technology is flourishing around the world:
Canada
- Richard Fearn, Fab-Form Industries Ltd. (fabric formed footings, columns, walls)
England
- Andrew Mountain, Enviroform (UK) Ltd., Wakefield (development of non-porous fabric revetment systems)
Japan
- Umi Architectural Atelier, Architect Kenzo Unno, Tokyo (fabric formed wall systems)
United States
- Arro Design, VT - Sandy Lawton, Architect (application of fabric formwork to concrete structures
- Ellendale Concrete Products, LLC, Doug Muckey (application of fabric column forms in developing countries)
- Sure Safe Industries, San Diego - Art Angello (application of fabric footing forms to HUD Code and Modular Housing)