From Research to Reality: How CIMNE’s Inflatable Structures Transform Construction

In the world of engineering innovation, few success stories illustrate the journey from academic research to market impact as clearly as CIMNE’s development of inflatable membrane structures. This remarkable example of technological transfer demonstrates how computational engineering research can create substantial economic, environmental, and social value, delivering tangible results in key areas such as disaster relief response, advanced mobility, environment protection and low-cost infrastructure construction.

CIMNE’s groundbreaking research, initiated in 1997, focused on developing specialized finite elements for membrane structures that eliminated the need for rotational degrees of freedom. This technical innovation, led by researchers E. Oñate, R. Flores, and F. Zárate, fundamentally changed how engineers could model these unique structures.

The key breakthrough came with the development of advanced patterning techniques that translated complex three-dimensional designs into precise flat patterns for manufacturing, allowing for accurate prediction of deformation during inflation. This innovation facilitated the practical construction of inflatable structures with unprecedented geometric accuracy.

By 2019, CIMNE had advanced to implementing dynamic coupled calculations of inflatable structures under environmental loads, known as aeroelastic calculations. This culminated in the development of the Wind Tunnel software in 2021, specifically designed for parametric analysis of wind impacts on these structures.

Founded in 2001 following a successful prototype demonstration at Barcelona’s World Trade Center, BuildAir has transformed the landscape of temporary construction and aeronautical maintenance infrastructure.

As a spin-off of CIMNE the company experienced remarkable growth, expanding from just 3 employees to 50 by 2021, with contracts generating revenues of €11.5 million between 2018-2021. BuildAir’s client roster includes aviation industry leaders such as Lan Chile, Lufthansa, Airbus, and Saudia Aerospace.

What makes BuildAir’s success particularly noteworthy is how it continuously incorporated CIMNE’s research advancements into its product development, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation that benefited both organizations through knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

Beyond economic applications, BuildAir’s structures deliver remarkable environmental benefits. Their inflatable designs:

• Reduce material weight by over 20 times compared to traditional steel structures.
• Lower carbon footprint by more than four times versus conventional alternatives.
• Incorporate energy-efficient technologies like solar panels and thermal-efficient walls.

The social impact extends to humanitarian applications, with BuildAir’s rapid-deployment shelters providing critical infrastructure for disaster response worldwide. Collaborations with organizations like UNICEF highlight the technology’s value in crisis situations.

The CIMNE-BuildAir relationship exemplifies effective technology transfer in several ways:

1. 1. Ongoing research collaboration ensured innovation momentum
   2. Knowledge exchange through professionals moving between organizations
   3. Financial benefits to CIMNE through contracts exceeding €1.05 million
   4. Academic community engagement through conferences and publications

CIMNE’s strategic approach to impact through this project responds to the centre’s broader mission to transform its cutting-edge research into practical applications. By fostering an innovation culture that led to the creation of BuildAir as a successful spin-off, CIMNE creates a model for successful research commercialization.

The BuildAir case showcases how targeted scientific research addressing real-world challenges can deliver lasting impacts. From theoretical numerical models to world-record-setting inflatable hangars that house commercial aircraft, this journey is a testament to the transformative potential of computational engineering when effectively bridged to industry applications.