Principles and Applications of Digital Mold Technology for Double-Curved GRC Shapes

In the field of contemporary architectural design, double-curved forms have become the finishing touch of landmark buildings with their unique artistic expressiveness. As a dedicated industry specialist in glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) materials, Qinglong Group, drawing on 28 years of full-chain experience, has achieved breakthrough innovations in the R&D and application of digital mold technology for double-curved GRC forms. This technology not only redefines the construction logic of complex forms, but also provides an efficient solution for the artistic expression of building skins.

Double-Curved GRC Digital Mold Technology: An Innovation from Parametric Design to Intelligent Manufacturing

Traditional production of double-curved GRC components relies on manual mold making, suffering from pain points such as low precision, long cycles, and high costs. The digital mold technology developed by Qinglong Group controls dimensional errors within ±2mm through full-process digital management of "3D scanning – parametric modeling – BIM collaboration – CNC machining". Taking a double-curved curtain wall project of a grand theater as an example, the parametric model built with Rhino and Grasshopper responds in real time to designers' form adjustments, and molds machined by five-axis engraving equipment shortened the production cycle of double-curved GRC components with single panel areas of up to 12㎡ by 40%.

Synergistic Optimization of Materials and Processes: The Key to Enhancing GRC Performance

Double-curved forms place stringent demands on the flexural strength, toughness, and durability of materials. Qinglong Group adopts a self-developed low-alkali cement-based formulation combined with three-dimensional random distribution technology for alkali-resistant glass fibers, pushing the flexural strength of GRC material beyond 25MPa to meet the structural requirements of large-span double-curved components. In mold surface treatment, the innovative application of nano-scale release agents and vacuum casting technology ensures the smoothness and textural expressiveness of double-curved surfaces, successfully reproducing the fluid aesthetics in design drawings.

Technical Breakthroughs in Engineering Practice: Full-Cycle Management from Laboratory to Project Site

In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, the Qinglong team faced the challenge of installing 168 irregular double-curved GRC sunshade panels. Through BIM-based pre-assembly simulation combined with 3D laser scanning positioning, they achieved precise alignment of complex curved surfaces. The project won the Silver Award of the AALBORG WHITE Cup GRC Construction Engineering Innovation Award, confirming the reliability of digital mold technology in actual engineering. To date, Qinglong has established a complete technical system covering material formulation R&D, mold design and machining, and construction installation, with an annual production capacity of 600,000 square meters of double-curved and irregular GRC components.

Industry Value and Future Outlook: Driving the Technological Upgrade of Architectural Decorative Materials

As a National High-Tech Enterprise and a participating drafter of the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC), Qinglong Group's digital mold technology has not only solved the industrialized production challenges of double-curved forms, but also expanded the application boundaries of GRC materials in the high-end building sector. In the future, with the integration of technologies such as 3D printed molds and AI-assisted design, Qinglong will continue to explore composite applications of double-curved GRC with UHPC, GRG, and other materials, providing designers with more imaginative construction solutions and fulfilling its corporate mission of "Creating Beautiful Architecture".