Construction Industry with 3D Printer (2020-09)¶

As most industries are gradually moving towards automation, the additive manufacturing of concrete using three-dimension (3D) printing forms a visionary step towards achieving this goal for the construction industry. Printing of concrete using a 3D concrete printer (3DCP) is an evolving technology that has the potential to revolutionize the construction industry by reducing the workforce, time, cost, and formwork of construction projects. This emerging field can transform the construction industry by rendering a paradigm shift from the conventional “beam and post” approach. Although 3DCP is in its infancy, several research works have been completed. Also, few structures have already been constructed around the world using the latest available technology in 3DCP. One such example is a two-story office building in Dubai. This paper discusses the history of the evolution of 3DCP technology, the materials used in the process and their rheological properties, and the mechanical properties of the printed structure. This paper also highlights the details of the various structures constructed worldwide using this technology. Lastly, this paper discusses the scope of future research work that can be taken up for enhancing the capabilities of the current 3D concrete printing technology and exploring applications of sustainable building materials in various constructions. The review of the development of 3DCP in the recent past and the various works completed to date using this technology show the potential of 3DCP in bringing a significant transformative improvement in the traditional construction process as well as in developing applications of alternative and green building materials. Thus, this technology has a huge scope going forward.