How to Control the Jointing Precision of Multi-Curved UHPC Shapes: Research on Key Technologies and Practical Strategies

How to Control Splicing Precision of Multi-Curved UHPC Shapes: Research on Key Technologies and Practical Strategies

Driven by the dual forces of contemporary architectural aesthetics and engineering technology, Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) has become the core material for shaping complex building envelopes thanks to its outstanding mechanical properties and freedom of form. However, controlling the splicing precision of multi-curved UHPC components has always been an industry pain point—from millimeter-level tolerances to overall shape coordination, every step tests the systematic capabilities of materials, design, and construction. As an industry veteran with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP, Qinglong Group has drawn on the practice of hundreds of landmark projects to develop a full-process solution covering digital design, precision manufacturing, and intelligent installation, helping designers and owners solve the challenges of realizing complex shapes.

I. Digital Twin-Driven: Precision Pre-Setting from Design to Fabrication

Precision control of multi-curved UHPC shapes begins with digital modeling at the design stage. The Qinglong team uses the Rhino+Grasshopper parametric platform to decompose building surfaces into quantifiable mathematical models, and builds 1:1 digital twins through BIM technology. Taking a hyperbolic curtain wall project for a grand theater as an example, the design team carried out topology optimization on more than 3,000 UHPC unit components, controlling the joint error between adjacent components within ±0.5mm. Meanwhile, 3D scanning technology was introduced to verify mold precision, ensuring that steel mold machining error does not exceed 0.3mm/m and laying the foundation for subsequent production. This closed-loop process of "design-simulation-verification" effectively prevents the information loss that occurs in traditional 2D drawing conversion.

II. Material Properties and Process Innovation: The Underlying Guarantee of UHPC Forming Precision

The properties of the UHPC material itself are crucial to splicing precision. Qinglong uses its self-developed C120-grade UHPC mix, enhancing material homogeneity through 3D steel fiber dispersion technology to keep the shrinkage rate of components stable below 0.03%. In production, a combined process of vacuum casting and high-frequency vibration achieves a surface flatness of 2mm/2m, preventing deformation caused by uneven material density. For hyperbolic components, an innovative "modular mold + adjustable support" system is applied, achieving a curvature deviation of ≤1mm through hydraulic synchronous control. This process helped the translucent concrete project at Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road win the UHPC Construction Engineering Innovation Award.

III. Intelligent Installation System: Millimeter-Level On-Site Splicing Calibration

Precision control on the construction site is the last mile in realizing multi-curved UHPC shapes. Qinglong's "3D laser positioning + BIM pre-assembly" system uses a Leica TS60 total station to collect installation datum points in real time and feeds the data back into the BIM model for dynamic adjustment. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, the team innovatively adopted a "modular hoisting unit" approach, dividing the 12-meter-long hyperbolic UHPC cladding panels into 3 standard modules, with built-in RFID chips enabling intelligent verification of installation positions, ultimately achieving an overall splicing error of ≤2mm, far exceeding the conventional industry standard of 5mm. In addition, to address the effects of temperature-induced deformation, a real-time compensation mechanism based on strain gauge monitoring has been established to ensure uniform joint gaps for components installed in different seasons.

IV. Full Life-Cycle Management: Turning Project Experience into Industry Standards

As a participating drafting unit of the industry standard General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Components, Qinglong has transformed project experience into a standardized system. By establishing 18 key control points covering material testing, mold acceptance, and installation verification, a full-process quality traceability mechanism from design to maintenance has been formed. For example, in an overseas airport project, the team simulated material performance changes under different climate conditions in advance and formulated targeted splicing gap reservation plans, ensuring no significant deformation within ten years after project delivery. This cycle of "practice-standard-re-practice" is a testament to Qinglong's technical accumulation as a national "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative" enterprise.

From the irregular ribbons at the Guangzhou Asian Games venues to the curved curtain wall of the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia, the control of splicing precision for multi-curved UHPC shapes has evolved from a technical challenge into a manifestation of core enterprise competitiveness. Building on 28 years of industry experience, Qinglong Group is driving UHPC's leap from "formable" to "precisely controlled" through the deep integration of digitalization, material innovation, and intelligent construction. For designers and owners pursuing the ultimate in aesthetics, choosing a UHPC manufacturer with full-chain capabilities is not only a guarantee of project quality, but also a promise of confidence in bringing architectural art to life. In the future, as technologies such as 3D printing and AI rehearsal are integrated, precision control of multi-curved UHPC will advance to even higher dimensions. Qinglong, upholding its values of "Honesty, Striving, Trust, and Collaboration," is committed to continuously contributing "Chinese Construction" precision solutions to the industry.