3D Printed Mortars with Marble-Powder Towards Sustainable Construction (2024-11)¶

In this study, we ask if there are broadly scalable methods for additively manufacturing low-carbon, climate-specific architecture that are thermally and structurally performative for housing. We then demonstrate that high-performance, hierarchical building elements can be produced from extremely low-cost, low-carbon materials like earth using increasingly available 3D printing tools. We present a set of novel design methods and building systems from the scale of a brick to the scale of a wall, utilizing a combination of simulation-driven design and additive manufacturing with earth and clay. By leveraging materials readily available in all climates, bespoke, simulation-driven building elements could be manufactured from these low or no-cost materials to create performative, low-carbon buildings. By presenting a methodology for material and fabrication-aware energy simulation for additive manufacturing, this work provides scalable groundwork for future studies across climates and local building requirements.