The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis is to reveal an overview of the principles and structures of lightweight constructions in the field of civil engineering. The many advantages and opportunities of thin constructions – especially affecting the saving of material – are questioned and discussed. Although lightweight constructions bring a lot of benefits, there are still a lot of problems that must be solved. The self-weight of a structure should be kept as small as possible to avoid additional deformation and stress. For this purpose, various methods for weight optimisation, which can be achieved by different approaches, are presented. Structures in nature, for example, can serve as an inspiration for the shape generation of different structural components. Bionics aspire to achieve natural phenomena with technical means – thus learning from nature. Shape generation as well as the right selection of materials is an important aspect in the realisation of a lightweight structure. In this thesis, the most common light-weight materials and their properties are explained. The several construction methods for beam and surface structures are presented through an illustration of the historical development and the implementation in existing constructions. The aim of lightweight systems is to create weight and form optimised structures with a long durability and high environmental compatibility. Complex constructions can be realised by the use of mathematical optimisation and computer aided methods in order to meet today’s constantly rising demands. The principles and formats of lightweight buildings are constantly evolving and lead to new approaches. This paper features the latest trends in lightweight construction, such as adaptive buildings. This research results in reflecting the state of the art in lightweight constructions with a focus on the importance of its future development.     «

The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis is to reveal an overview of the principles and structures of lightweight constructions in the field of civil engineering. The many advantages and opportunities of thin constructions – especially affecting the saving of material – are questioned and discussed. Although lightweight constructions bring a lot of benefits, there are still a lot of problems that must be solved. The self-weight of a structure should be kept as small as possible to avoid additional...     »