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Submillimetre Formwork (2017-11)

3D Printed Plastic Formwork for Concrete Elements

10.3929/ethz-b-000237359

 Jipa Mihail-Andrei,  Bernhard Mathias,  Dillenburger Benjamin
Contribution - Proceedings of the 2017 TxA Emerging Design + Technology Conference

Abstract

Submillimetre Formwork is a novel method for fabricating geometrically complex concrete parts with 3D-printed plastic formwork (Figure 1). This research investigates how 3D printing can be used to fabricate submillimetre-thin formwork. To achieve this, computational methods for optimizing the fabrication speed of formwork with plastic deposition 3D printing are developed, as well as methods to stabilize the minimal formwork during the casting process. Without any coating and post-processing steps, the plastic formwork is easily removable, recyclable and bio-degradable. The implications of Submillimetre Formwork are a considerable material reduction, faster off-site fabrication time for the formwork, ease of transportation to site, ease of on-site assembly and unprecedented design opportunities for free form and highly detailed concrete components.

2 References

  1. Gosselin Clément, Duballet Romain, Roux Philippe, Gaudillière-Jami Nadja et al. (2016-03)
    Large-Scale 3D Printing of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete:
    A New Processing Route for Architects and Builders
  2. Jipa Mihail-Andrei, Bernhard Mathias, Meibodi Mania, Dillenburger Benjamin (2016-11)
    3D Printed Stay-in-Place Formwork for Topologically Optimized Concrete Slabs

11 Citations

  1. Sangiorgio Valentino, Bianchi Iacopo, Forcellese Archimede (2025-02)
    Advancing Decarbonization Through 3D Printed Concrete Formworks:
    LIFE Cycle Analysis of Technologies, Materials, and Processes
  2. Zhi Yefan, Chai Hua, Teng Teng, Akbarzadeh Masoud (2025-02)
    Automated Toolpath Design of 3D Concrete Printing Structural Components
  3. Gebhard Lukas, Mata-Falcón Jaime, Ammann Rebecca, Pressmair Nadine et al. (2024-08)
    Enhancing Structural Efficiency with Digital Concrete:
    Principles, Opportunities and Case Studies
  4. Mozaffari Salma, Bruce Mackenzie, Clune Gabrielle, Xie Ruxin et al. (2023-06)
    Digital Design and Fabrication of Clay Formwork for Concrete Casting
  5. Jipa Mihail-Andrei, Reiter Lex, Flatt Robert, Dillenburger Benjamin (2022-07)
    Environmental Stress Cracking of 3D Printed Polymers Exposed to Concrete
  6. Jipa Mihail-Andrei, Dillenburger Benjamin (2022-04)
    3D Printed Formwork for Concrete:
    State of the Art, Opportunities, Challenges, and Applications
  7. Gebhard Lukas, Burger Joris, Mata-Falcón Jaime, Lloret-Fritschi Ena et al. (2022-03)
    Towards Efficient Concrete Structures with Ultra-Thin 3D Printed Formwork:
    Exploring Reinforcement-Strategies and Optimization
  8. Burger Joris, Lloret-Fritschi Ena, Taha Nizar, Scotto Fabio et al. (2020-07)
    Design and Fabrication of a Non-Standard, Structural Concrete Column Using Eggshell:
    Ultra-Thin, 3D Printed Formwork
  9. Lloret-Fritschi Ena, Wangler Timothy, Gebhard Lukas, Mata-Falcón Jaime et al. (2020-05)
    From Smart Dynamic Casting to a Growing Family of Digital Casting Systems
  10. Burger Joris, Lloret-Fritschi Ena, Scotto Fabio, Demoulin Thibault et al. (2020-04)
    Eggshell:
    Ultra-Thin Three-Dimensional Printed Formwork for Concrete Structures
  11. Jipa Mihail-Andrei, Giacomarra Federico, Giesecke Rena, Chousou Georgia et al. (2019-06)
    3D Printed Formwork for Bespoke Concrete Stairs

BibTeX 
@inproceedings{jipa_bern_dill.2017.SF,
  author            = "Mihail-Andrei Jipa and Mathias Bernhard and Benjamin Dillenburger",
  title             = "Submillimetre Formwork: 3D Printed Plastic Formwork for Concrete Elements",
  doi               = "10.3929/ethz-b-000237359",
  year              = "2017",
  booktitle         = "Proceedings of the 2017 TxA Emerging Design + Technology Conference",
  editor            = "Kory Bieg",
}
Formatted Citation

M.-A. Jipa, M. Bernhard and B. Dillenburger, “Submillimetre Formwork: 3D Printed Plastic Formwork for Concrete Elements”, in Proceedings of the 2017 TxA Emerging Design + Technology Conference, 2017. doi: 10.3929/ethz-b-000237359.

Jipa, Mihail-Andrei, Mathias Bernhard, and Benjamin Dillenburger. “Submillimetre Formwork: 3D Printed Plastic Formwork for Concrete Elements”. In Proceedings of the 2017 TxA Emerging Design + Technology Conference, edited by Kory Bieg, 2017. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000237359.