ULTRAPERFORMING Beams/ Columns Doors ... - fen-om data

Carbon Fiber Surfacing
Constructed entirely of carbon fiber, the Z5 chair weighs only 14 pounds but will withstand loads
in excess of 1200 pounds. The technology used to construct this chair was originally developed
for military applications and is a primary component in all advanced fighter aircraft. By exploiting
the characteristics of this exotic material, Giovanni Pagnotta has created what appears to be an
updated version of Gerrit Rietveld’s 1934 Zig-Zag stool which is “not only visually disarming but
also extraordinarily comfortable.” Z5 is available as shown in naked carbon, red, yellow, blue, or
dressed in black leather.
Concrete Canvas Shelter
The Concrete Canvas Shelter is a rapidly deployable hardened shelter that requires only water
and air for erection. It can be deployed by two people without any training in approximately thirty
minutes and is ready to use in twelve hours. The shelter consists of a cement-impregnated fabric
(Concrete Cloth) bonded to the outer surface of an inflatable plastic inner structure. Prior to
construction, the shelter is delivered folded in a sealed plastic sack. Once the sack is positioned
and filled with water, the fiber matrix wicks water into the cement, naturally controlling the
water-to-cement ratio. The sack is cut open after hydration, and a battery-driven fan inflates the
inner plastic lining, causing the structure to lift. After a duration of twelve hours, the concrete
will have set sufficiently for use. The fibers of the Concrete Canvas fabric form a coherent matrix
within the concrete, providing tensile reinforcement and helping prevent crack propagation. If
desired, the shelter can be buried with over 0.5 meters of sand on the roof in order to provide
increased insulation and protection.
www.concretecanvas.co.uk
Creative-Weave Metal Mesh
Metal meshes have been known as decorative and functional design elements in architecture for
only a few years. The French National Library in Paris was the first architectural project where
GKD, in cooperation with French architect Dominique Perrault, succeeded in systematically
implementing metal meshes in a building in various ways and applications. Since then, this
development has continued worldwide. For decades, GKD has manufactured metal meshes for
industrial applications in filtration and separation technologies and the process belt sector. At
first, it was their visual attractiveness that made metal meshes suitable for the architecture and
design sector. During the continuous product development it became clear that metal meshes also
have considerable technical advantages which are extremely relevant in the field of architecture.
Today, the architect has a wide range of mesh samples at hand, with weaving widths up to
eight meters, which allow for great design flexibility. Woven metallic meshes used as partition
elements convey a new dimension to any space. They can be used as projection screens, and,
taking into account their acoustic characteristics,\ are suitable for the use in public buildings,
opera houses and concert halls.
www.gkd.de/englisch
Floating Concrete
By replacing sand and gravel with tiny polymeric spheres, University of Washington materials
scientists have created a concrete stronger than traditional concrete but so light it floats in water.
The team won a regional American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Competition.
http://students.washington.edu/asce/canoe.shtml
Foamed Aluminum
“Light-as-air, stronger-than-steel materials are just beginning to shape our world. Foamed
aluminum first emerged from the lab in the frame of a 1998 Karmann concept car. Ten times
stronger than traditional aluminum at just one tenth the weight, the material allows a more fuelefficient
vehicle. Its isotropic cellular structure helps the frame absorb shock and serves as an
insulating firewall between the engine\ and the rest of the car. The foaming process can also be
applied to steel, lead, tin, and zinc.” [Jessie Scanlon, Wired] CYMAT’s Aluminum Foam Division is
an innovator in the use of closed cell aluminum foam for a wide variety of applications. Initially
developed by Alcan International, this material won the National Research Council (Canada)
Award for Product of The Year in 1993. The product is a high strength, extremely light weight
material that possesses high durabilty, excellent finish and lasting value. The foam comes in an
assortment of densities and sizes up to five feet wide and up to fifty feet long. It has numerous
applications including architectural, automotive, marine, military, aviation, transportation,
electronics, appliances, signage and many more.
www.cymat.com/Cymat_Foam_products0.htm