Analysis of Processing Differences Between Single-Curved GRC Panels and Double-Curved GRC Panels: Comparison of Process Characteristics and Technical Difficulties

Analysis of Processing Differences Between Single-Curvature and Double-Curvature GRC Panels: A Comparison of Process Characteristics and Technical Challenges

Against the backdrop of contemporary architectural design's growing pursuit of personalization and artistry, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) has become a key medium for shaping the aesthetics of building skins thanks to its lightweight high strength and flexible formability. As an industry leader with 28 years of deep expertise in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has a profound understanding of the technical distinctions between single-curvature and double-curvature GRC panels at the processing stage. This article systematically analyzes the processing differences between the two types of components from three dimensions—process principles, technical challenges, and engineering applications—providing professional reference for designers and owners.

1. Forming Processes: The Technical Leap from Flat to Curved Surfaces

Single-curvature GRC panels rely on mature mold technology to achieve standardized production. Their core process adopts flat-mold casting or spray-up forming; through fixed-angle mold design, single-curvature components (such as cylindrical surfaces and folded planes) can be manufactured in batches efficiently. Taking Qinglong Group's Nanning production base as an example, the daily output of single-curvature panels can reach 300 square meters, with forming precision controlled within ±2mm, making them suitable for standardized curtain wall units of commercial complexes.

Double-curvature GRC panels, by contrast, face the challenge of geometric complexity. Their processing involves 3D modeling, mold segmentation, parametric adjustment, and other steps, using flexible molds or adjustable steel mold systems. Qinglong's specially developed molds for double-curvature components, which combine BIM technology with CNC machining, can achieve complex shapes with a minimum radius of curvature of 300mm; in the Century Plaza renovation project on Nanjing East Road, 1,200 double-curvature light-transmitting UHPC-GRC composite panels were precisely fabricated.

2. Technical Challenges: The Dual Test of Material Performance and Precision Control

The technical challenges of single-curvature GRC panels center on material mix optimization. Adjusting the glass fiber content (typically 6-8%) and concrete flowability is required to resolve surface bubbling and strength uniformity issues during demolding. The vacuum-assisted forming process adopted by Qinglong enables single-curvature panels to consistently achieve a flexural strength above 18MPa, meeting the highest grade requirements of the Technical Standard for Building Applications of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC), JGJ/T423-2018.

Double-curvature GRC panels must overcome three major technical bottlenecks: first, the risk of cracking caused by uneven stress distribution on curved surfaces, which is addressed through directional fiber laying technology to disperse stress; second, persistently high mold costs—Qinglong innovatively adopted modular combined molds, raising the mold reuse rate for double-curvature components by 40%; third, installation precision control—with 3D laser scanning positioning, on-site jointing errors are kept within 1.5mm. This technology was validated in the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project and won the AALBORG WHITE Cup GRC Engineering Innovation Award.

3. Engineering Adaptation: The Technical Logic of Scenario-Based Selection

With their cost advantages and high-efficiency production, single-curvature GRC panels are widely used in European classical architectural decorative moldings (Roman columns, cornice lines) and conventional facade renovations. The single-curvature sunshade panel system Qinglong supplied to a leading real estate enterprise reduced the project's overall cost by 22% through standardized design.

Double-curvature GRC panels, meanwhile, have become the "shape code" of landmark buildings. In an international airport project in Saudi Arabia, Qinglong's team used double-curvature GRC technology to create a streamlined roof spanning 28 meters, with surface texture precision reaching 0.8mm, perfectly presenting the designer's "Desert Wind" concept. Although such components carry a higher unit price, they enable architectural expression beyond the reach of traditional materials.

As a national high-tech enterprise and a participant in GRC industry standard-setting, Qinglong Group believes that single-curvature and double-curvature GRC panels represent not a difference in technical hierarchy, but process choices made for different architectural needs. Through full-chain technical capabilities (detailed design → digital intelligent manufacturing → precision installation), Qinglong has supplied GRC components for 500+ projects at home and abroad, with double-curvature components accounting for 35%, confirming the growth potential of the complex-shape market. In the future, as parametric design and intelligent manufacturing become deeply integrated, GRC materials will offer greater room for imagination in the art of building skins.