The 3D printing seems to be a cutting edge technology in manufacturing. Now it also seems be capable of printing a real building through the technology. Does anyone know what's the material adopted for the 3D printing of real building. Is there any structural engineering research on it? If it is efficient and cost effective, it seems to potentially bring an evolution to our conventional motar and brick construction industry.
As far as I am aware, there are two companies reported (one Dutch, one Chinese) to have built houses using large format concrete 3D printer.
Therefore in terms of materials, I am afraid 3D printing has not brought anything new to building construction, yet. It is the application that seems to be attractive right now. For e.g. you can print concrete with air gap in wall to insulate the building against extreme weather. And companies can get creative on the logistics aspect of construction with a mobile concrete 3D printer to lower cost of production etc. They could also come in really handy for setting up makeshift shelters in an emergency response situation.
In terms of their structural integrity, I have absolutely no idea. I am sure people out there are researching on this and maybe someone else can give some clues here.
Contour crafting is a building printing technology being researched by Behrokh Khoshnevis of the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (in the Viterbi School of Engineering) that uses a computer-controlled crane or gantry to build edifices rapidly and efficiently with substantially less manual labor.
It was originally conceived as a method to construct molds for industrial parts. Khoshnevis decided to adapt the technology for rapid home construction as a way to rebuild after natural disasters, like the devastating earthquakes that have plagued his native Iran.[1]
Using a quick-setting, concrete-like material, contour crafting forms the house's walls layer by layer until topped off by floors and ceilings set in place by the crane. The notional concept calls for the insertion of structural components, plumbing, wiring, utilities, and even consumer devices like audiovisual systems as the layers are built.
"Annenberg Foundation Puts Robotic Disaster Rebuilding Technology on Fast Track". University of Souther California School of Engineering. November 14, 2005. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_crafting
Work begins on the world's first 3D-printed house
Zero waste, lower transport costs and recyclable materials – is 3D-printing the future of housebuilding? Dutch architects are putting the process to the test for the first time in Amsterdam
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2014/mar/28/work-begins-on-the-worlds-first-3d-printed-house
Thanks so much to all the answer. But will it be cost effective, since we are talking about disaster rebuilding? Do we still need to erect rebars if we 3D printing concrete structures? Thanks again.
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