Additive Manufacturing of Free-Formed Concrete Elements by Selective Binding with Calcium Silicate-Based Cements (2022-06)¶

Additive manufacturing allows a previously unknown degree of geometric freedom in the design of components. In medical and dental technology for example, additive manufacturing is used to produce prostheses and implants adapted to the individual anatomy of the patient. In mechanical engineering, it enables the construction of multifunctional and shape-optimized components thus reducing the amount of material used while simultaneously increasing performance. In aerospace engineering, it is used to save weight by means of topology optimization or by combining entire assemblies into a single component [1]. These and many other examples show that additive manufacturing makes it possible to create unique, highly complex components or small series, thereby promoting both functionality and material economy. Additive manufacturing also holds great potential for the construction industry, where unique components are the rule and complexity is often necessary. With this technique, shape-optimized structural elements, multifunctional elements of the building envelope or individual formwork elements of high geometric complexity can be produced. However, while additive manufacturing is already state-of-the-art in many industries, it is still in an early stage of development in the fi eld of civil engineering. There are neither suffi ciently large devices available for applications in the building industry, nor can the available equipment be used to produce materials that meet the requirements for building materials. It was therefore sensible to research additive manufacturing with concrete in a sub-project of the Priority Programme SPP 1542 „Concrete Light“.