ABSTRACT
The structural floor of typical concrete frame buildings contributes a significant portion to the total embodied carbon of the superstructure by its sheer mass. In addition, the monolithic nature of in-situ concrete and the frequent use of grouting for prefabricated components result in structures which are often difficult to disassemble, creating barriers towards reuse. We present a novel segmented thin-shell concrete flooring system which facilitates component reuse and reconfiguration compatible with a circular economy for construction. By leveraging the funicular potential of shell structures and the geometry of masonry fan vaults, a lightweight materially efficient flooring system which can be disassembled without the need to cut through concrete or grout is proposed. Fabrication and assembly of a scale prototype spanning 2 m by 2 m were carried out as a proof-of-concept, leveraging digital fabrication techniques to create the curved vault profile.
