Competition goal

We are looking for a beam made of carbon-reinforced concrete with a minimized consumption of materials. The component should be made of non-metallic reinforcement and mineral matrix material and, thanks to its optimized geometry and cross-sectional design, achieve the highest possible load-bearing capacity with minimal self-weight and small deformations under use loads.

Technical data

• Maximum component dimensions: 10 × 20 × 120 cm³
• Maximum weight of the beam: 20 kg
• Static system: single-span beam with load application in the center of the span, free span 1 m

Valuation

The winning beam is determined by a (destructive) load test. The submitted specimens are tested in a standardized test process by independent employees of the Institute for Structural Concrete at RWTH Aachen University. In addition to the load-bearing capacity, the deformation when half the load is reached is evaluated to assess the performance characteristics. The mass of the specimens is calculated before the test begins. To identify the winning component, the load-bearing performance TP of all submitted beams is determined using the following calculation formula:

TP = F_Test² / (w·G)

With:
F_Test = breaking load determined in the test
w = deflection at a load level of ½ F_Test
G = self weight of the component

The component with the highest TP wins the competition.

Awarding authority

Transregio 280

• Spokesperson: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Manfred Curbach
  TU Dresden, Institute of Concrete Structures, D-01062 Dresden (Germany)
• Deputy Spokesperson: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Josef Hegger
  RWTH Aachen University, Institute of Structural Concrete, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str. 1, D-52074 Aachen (Germany)

Conditions of participation

General information

• The competition is addressed to students and academic staff of civil engineering and architecture
• Prize: participation in an international research conference
• Participation: form to imb@imb.rwth-aachen.de
• Contact: Ms. Alvarez, imb@imb.rwth-aachen.de
• Address for submissions: Dipl.-Ing. Jochen Wessel, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str.1, Halle C, Raum 008, D-52074 Aachen (Germany)

Language

German or English

Important dates

• Participation request via mail until: June 1, 2023 (extended until June 30, 2023)
• Submission of test specimens: September 1, 2023
• Award ceremony: September 26, 2023 as part of the DAfStb research colloquium in Aachen

Documents to be submitted

The competition entries must be submitted in anonymized form so that an independent assessment is possible. You should therefore define a code number for your entry, consisting of two letters and two numbers, e.g. AB12. The code number should be attached to the entry on an A4 sheet of paper and avoid any reference to your name, your university affiliation or your supervisors.

Binding: Submission of the signed declaration of participation and copyright (Annex 1 and Annex 2). All submissions are to be created by the participants themselves and are therefore free of third-party rights.