A canopy in Kotzia square

The objective of my project was to prove FRP is suitable for loadbearing structures. In every step the geometry was tested for its structural efficiency and the goal was to reduce the amount of the needed materials. In the process, issues like panel division, production techniques, connections, transportation of the panels, water management etc.

FRP due to the properties, it is the only material that has such combination of lightness, strength and endurance and it can definitely have a great effect to the future of architecture. Thus it is crucial to insist researching on the materials and production techniques and designing with innovative methods loadbearing fibre-reinforced polymer structures aiming towards a greater future for the application of the material in construction. Through research it is possible to prove that the benefits of using fibre-reinforced polymers for loadbearing structures can be greater than the costs or even manage to reduce the material and production costs. In any case, by making fibre-reinforced polymers more accessible to architectural loadbearing applications, the interest for further research on bio-composites will be increased and it can be even possible to manage create recyclable fibre-reinforced polymers. With my graduation project I tried to research and understand the capabilities of the material by designing a self-supported fibre-reinforced polymer canopy structure with large spans between its supports. My intention was to prove how strong is the material and to compare its strengths and weaknesses against other more commonly used materials, such as steel and concrete. Furthermore, I wanted to understand if indeed the material is an expensive choice for loadbearing components and to try to find a design optimization method which will result in reduction of the cost. Moreover, with my research I was aiming to define the types of fibres and resins that have the proper mechanical properties and are cost-effective, to find the most efficient structural system for the material and to find the production technique that has the best combination of rapidness, accuracy and cost effectiveness.