A Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Approach

Research in the field of additive manufacturing with concrete has gained enormous momentum in recent years. In practice, the first fully functional and habitable buildings have been realized. While these lighthouse projects have proven the general feasibility of 3D printing in construction, in the future it will be a matter of further expanding the potential of 3D printing, addressing important topics such as functional integration (reinforcement, piping, fasteners), material gradation (load-bearing, insulating) as well as disassembly and reuse. As part of an international competition organized by LafargeHolcim Ltd. and its partners Witteveen & Bos, COBOD and Fondation des Ponts wich focused on realigning a traditionally manufactured residential building to concrete 3D printing technology, a team of students and researchers have developed a concept for a modular, function-integrated panel system for individualized wall and ceiling elements. The system is characterized by the fact that the integrated modular structures are printed flat on the floor and precise connections and structural joints are subtracted while the concrete is still in its green state.