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Design and Fabrication of a Non-Standard, Structural Concrete Column Using Eggshell (2020-07)

Ultra-Thin, 3D Printed Formwork

10.1007/978-3-030-49916-7_105

 Burger Joris,  Lloret-Fritschi Ena, Taha Nizar,  Scotto Fabio,  Demoulin Thibault,  Mata-Falcón Jaime,  Gramazio Fabio,  Kohler Matthias,  Flatt Robert
Contribution - Proceedings of the 2nd RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication, pp. 1104-1115

Abstract

This paper describes the design and fabrication process of a concrete column cast in ultra-thin, 3D printed formwork, using a process known as Eggshell. The column was prefabricated as part of a real-world construction project, serving as the main load-bearing element for a reciprocal timber frame structure. The fabrication of the column required upscaling of the Eggshell process, to allow for the fabrication of elements of an architectural scale. Furthermore, several challenges had to be addressed such as: integration of reinforcement, establishing the formwork design space, and scaling up the 3D printing process. For the production of the final column a 1.5 mm thin formwork was 3D printed, after which it was combined with a prefabricated reinforcement cage and filled with concrete in a set-on-demand casting process. The successful realization of the project provides a first example of a full-scale building element produced with the Eggshell fabrication process. By 3D printing the formwork, geometrical freedom in concrete construction is greatly expanded, as well as formwork waste reduced.

5 References

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27 Citations

  1. Guan Jingyuan, Wang Li, Bai Gang, Ma Guowei (2025-06)
    Enhancing 3D Printed Formwork Columns via FRP Hoop Shear Connection Reinforcement
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    Effect of Nozzle Stand-Off Distance, Printing Interval, and Inclusion of Glass Fiber Mesh Reinforcement in 3D Printed Concrete
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    Selection of Reinforcement Incorporation Method for 3D Printed Concrete Using MCDM
  4. Sangiorgio Valentino, Rossetti Pietro, Polidoro Anthony, Rossi Emilio (2025-02)
    Sustainable Raw-Earth Blocks Achieved with 3D-Printed Formworks:
    Parametric Modeling, Prototyping, and Laboratory Testing
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    Material and Structural Fatigue-Performance of 18m Span Reinforced Arch Structure Manufactured by 3D Printing Concrete as Permanent Formwork
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    3D Printed Concrete Composite Slabs Fabricated by Pre-Stressed Reinforced Permanent Formwork:
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    The Nubian Slab:
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    New Reinforcement Approach for Freeform Concrete Components Through Carbon Fiber 3D Printing
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BibTeX
@inproceedings{burg_llor_taha_scot.2020.DaFoaNSSCCUE,
  author            = "Joris Jan Burger and Ena Lloret-Fritschi and Nizar Taha and Fabio Scotto and Thibault Demoulin and Jaime Mata-Falcón and Fabio Gramazio and Matthias Daniel Kohler and Robert Johann Flatt",
  title             = "Design and Fabrication of a Non-Standard, Structural Concrete Column Using Eggshell: Ultra-Thin, 3D Printed Formwork",
  doi               = "10.1007/978-3-030-49916-7_105",
  year              = "2020",
  volume            = "28",
  pages             = "1104--1115",
  booktitle         = "Proceedings of the 2nd RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication: Digital Concrete 2020",
  editor            = "Freek Paul Bos and Sandra Simaria de Oliveira Lucas and Robert Johannes Maria Wolfs and Theo A. M. Salet",
}
Formatted Citation

J. J. Burger, “Design and Fabrication of a Non-Standard, Structural Concrete Column Using Eggshell: Ultra-Thin, 3D Printed Formwork”, in Proceedings of the 2nd RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication: Digital Concrete 2020, 2020, vol. 28, pp. 1104–1115. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-49916-7_105.

Burger, Joris Jan, Ena Lloret-Fritschi, Nizar Taha, Fabio Scotto, Thibault Demoulin, Jaime Mata-Falcón, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Daniel Kohler, and Robert Johann Flatt. “Design and Fabrication of a Non-Standard, Structural Concrete Column Using Eggshell: Ultra-Thin, 3D Printed Formwork”. In Proceedings of the 2nd RILEM International Conference on Concrete and Digital Fabrication: Digital Concrete 2020, edited by Freek Paul Bos, Sandra Simaria de Oliveira Lucas, Robert Johannes Maria Wolfs, and Theo A. M. Salet, 28:1104–15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49916-7_105.