How to Handle the Thickness of GRC Components at Corner Positions? Key Technical Points and Construction Specifications Explained

In the field of architectural decoration, the thickness treatment of corner-position GRC components is a key factor affecting project safety and aesthetics. As an industry leader with 28 years of experience in detailed design, manufacturing, and construction of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group, drawing on the Technical Standard for Architectural Application of Glass Fibre Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018) and the practice of hundreds of landmark projects, analyzes for designers and owners the technical points and construction specifications for thickness treatment of corner-position GRC components.

The thickness design of corner-position GRC components must balance structural safety and shape requirements. According to the industry standard that Qinglong Group participated in formulating, the thickness of conventional flat GRC components should be controlled at 15-25mm, while corner positions, as stress concentration areas, require the thickness to be increased by 20%-30% on this basis, generally recommended to be no less than 20mm. Taking the corner shape of a commercial complex as an example, BIM simulation revealed that when the component thickness increased from 18mm to 22mm, the flexural strength improved by 17%, effectively reducing the risk of cracking. For complex corners such as double-curved surfaces, a gradient thickening process can be adopted, locally thickening to 25-30mm at areas with a curvature radius ≤300mm, and embedding a double-layer glass fibre mesh to enhance structural stability.

Material mix optimization is the core of thickness control for corner-position GRC. Qinglong Group's R&D center concluded through orthogonal tests that using sulphoaluminate cement with a strength grade ≥42.5, combined with a water-cement ratio of 0.28-0.32 and 1.5%-2% alkali-resistant glass fibre (length 12-18mm), can achieve a component flexural strength of over 20MPa while ensuring reasonable thickness. In production, corner positions require a vacuum extrusion molding process to ensure material density and avoid defects such as air bubbles and delamination caused by increased thickness. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, Qinglong precisely controlled the corner thickness at 22mm through this process, achieving a 15% weight reduction compared with traditional processes while meeting the fineness requirements of European-style carvings.

Construction and installation specifications are crucial to achieving the specified thickness of corner-position GRC. The survey and setting-out stage requires 3D laser scanning technology to ensure corner baseline errors ≤2mm; during installation, stainless steel connectors are rigidly fixed to the main structure, with connector spacing adjusted according to thickness—spacing for components 20-25mm thick should be controlled at 300-400mm. In the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, Qinglong innovatively adopted a "modular pre-assembly + on-site fine-tuning" process, controlling the installation error of 8m-high corner components within ±1.5mm and achieving "mirror-level" alignment with the glass curtain wall. It is worth noting that corner components with a thickness exceeding 25mm should undergo structural verification, with rib reinforcement or metal frames added when necessary. Qinglong's technical team once optimized the corner design of a museum through finite element analysis, reducing the overall self-weight by 8% through rib reinforcement arrangement despite a 5mm thickness increase.

Thickness treatment of corner-position GRC components requires a full life-cycle management mindset. As a national "Specialized, Refined, Distinctive, and Innovative" enterprise, Qinglong Group becomes involved in scheme optimization from the detailed design stage, generating thickness variation models through parametric design software (Rhino+Grasshopper) and adjusting thickness parameters according to the climate conditions at the project location (e.g., cold regions need to consider the effects of freeze-thaw cycles). During after-sales maintenance, an RFID chip traceability system is used to conduct regular stress monitoring of corner-position components, ensuring long-term safety. For more industry information: + WeChat qlfsbl123

As requirements for architectural aesthetics rise, corner-position GRC components are transforming from mere structural elements into carriers of artistic form. With the mission of "creating beautiful architecture," Qinglong Group will continue to drive the upgrade of thickness treatment processes through technological innovation, providing designers with more flexible shape solutions and creating architectural works that combine safety and beauty for owners. As a member of the International GRC Association, Qinglong is willing to share its 28 years of technical accumulation with industry partners to jointly promote the high-quality application of GRC materials in the field of architectural decoration.