3D-Crete: Development and Optimisation of a Cementitious Material for 3D Printing

The 3D printing concrete manufacturing system allows the production of concrete elements without the limitations of the shapes and geometries of traditional manufacturing methods. However, and as a consequence of the differences in the production system and material properties with respect to other manufacturing methods, it is necessary that the materials used for 3D concrete printing of structural purposes guarantee a minimum performance, while constitutive equations need to be derived for desgin purposes.

The objectives of the project mainly focus on the development of a cementicious material for 3D printing. In this line, the “3D-crete” project proposes the development and optimisation of a cementitious material with isotropic properties in all directions so that the structural design does not depend on the direction in which structural loads are applied. The project also aims at developing design guidelines so this material could be included in future codes and standards.

Within the project, full-scale prototypes of 3D printed concrete structural elements were manufactured and constitutive equations of the material were proposed. A study on the sustainability of specific examples of structural elements using the 3D printing manufacturing technique was also conducted.

This project has been co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and has the support of the Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Department of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia.