DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS USING 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Keywords:
Development, Sustainable Building Materials, 3D Printing TechnologyAbstract
This study investigates the mechanical properties and environmental impact of three sustainable building materials—geopolymer concrete, recycled plastic composites, and biocomposites—produced using 3D printing technology. The materials were subjected to tensile, compressive, and flexural strength tests, and a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate their environmental performance. The results indicate that geopolymer concrete exhibits superior mechanical properties, making it suitable for load-bearing applications, despite its relatively high environmental impact. Recycled plastic composites, while environmentally favorable due to their low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and energy consumption, showed the lowest mechanical strength, limiting their use to non-structural roles. Biocomposites offered a balanced performance with moderate mechanical properties and a lower environmental impact, making them versatile for lightweight construction applications. This study highlights the trade-offs between mechanical performance and sustainability, providing valuable insights for the construction industry. The findings suggest the potential for these materials to contribute to more sustainable construction practices, with recommendations for further research and optimization to enhance their applicability and environmental performance.
References
Bernal, S. A., Mejía de Gutiérrez, R., & Provis, J. L. (2016). Engineering and durability properties of concretes based on alkali-activated granulated blast furnace slag/metakaolin blends. Construction and Building Materials, 100, 203-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.09.095
Bogue, R. (2013). 3D printing: The dawn of a new era in manufacturing? Assembly Automation, 33(4), 307-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2013.03333dab.001
Buswell, R. A., Soar, R. C., Gibb, A. G. F., & Thorpe, A. (2018). Freeform construction: Mega-scale rapid manufacturing for construction. Automation in Construction, 16(2), 224-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2006.05.002
Camacho, D.D., Clayton, P., O’Brien, W.J., Seepersad, C., Juenger, M., Ferron, R., Salamone, S. (2018). Applications of additive manufacturing in the construction industry–A forward-looking review. Autom. Construct. 89, 110–119. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.12.031
Dieste, M., Panizzolo, R., Garza-Reyes, J.A., & Anosike, A. (2019). The relationship between lean and environmental performance: Practices and measures. Journal of Cleaner Production, 224, 120-131
Gosselin, C., Duballet, R., Roux, P., & Gaudillière, N. (2016). Large-scale 3D printing of ultra-high performance concrete—A new processing route for the building industry. Automation in Construction, 72, 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.09.013
ISO 14040. (2006). Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Principles and framework. International Organization for Standardization.
Kazemian, A., Yuan, X., Cochran, E., & Khoshnevis, B. (2017). Cementitious materials for construction-scale 3D printing: Laboratory testing of fresh printing mixture. Construction and Building Materials, 145, 639-647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.04.015
Khaiyum, M.Z., Sarker, S., & Kabir, G. (2023). Evaluation of Carbon Emission Factors in the Cement Industry: An Emerging Economy Context. Sustainability, 15, 15407. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115407
Khoshnevis, B. (2004). Automated construction by contour crafting—Related robotics and information technologies. Automation in Construction, 13(1), 5-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2003.08.012
Khoshnevis, B., Kazerani, M., & Hwang, J. (2006). Automated construction by contour crafting—related robotics and computer technologies. Automation in Construction, 15(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2005.04.005
Kreiger, M. A., & Morrow, W. R. (2014). Environmental impacts of additive manufacturing technologies: A comparative study using Life Cycle Assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 66, 203-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.10.043
Lim, S., Buswell, R. A., Le, T. T., Austin, S. A., Gibb, A. G. F., & Thorpe, T. (2012). Developments in construction-scale additive manufacturing processes. Automation in Construction, 21, 262-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2011.06.010
Liu, K., Takasu, K., Jiang, J., Zu, K., & Gao, W. (2023). Mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete components: A review. Developments in the Built Environment, 16, 100292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dibe.2023.100292
Mechtcherine, V., Shyshko, S., Haist, M., & Knaack, A. M. (2020). 3D printing of concrete and its implications for durability. Materials, 13(22), 5036. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13225036
Menna, C., Mata-Falcon, J., Bos, F.P., Vantyghem, G., Ferrara, L., Asprone, D., Salet, T., & Kaufmann, W. (2020). Opportunities and challenges for structural engineering of digitally fabricated concrete. Cement Concr. Res., 133, 106079 https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.cemconres.2020.106079.
Moult, J. (2015). Sustainable building materials and methods. Springer.
Pasco, J., Lei, Z., & Aranas, C., Jr. (2022). Additive Manufacturing in Off-Site Construction: Review and Future Directions. Buildings, 12, 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12010053
Paul, S. C., van Zijl, G. P. A. G., & Tan, M. J. (2018). A review on 3D concrete printing technology. Construction and Building Materials, 161, 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.11.174
Peng, T., Kellens, K., Tang, R., Chen, C., & Chen, G. (2018). Sustainability of additive manufacturing: An overview on its energy demand and environmental impact. Additive Manufacturing, 21, 694-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2018.04.022
Salet, T.A., Ahmed, Z.Y., Bos, F.P., & Laagland, H.L. (2018). Design of a 3D printed concrete bridge by testing. Virtual Phys. Prototyp. 13 (3), 222–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 17452759.2018.1476064.
Sepasgozar, S.M., Shi, A., Yang, L., Shirowzhan, S., & Edwards, D.J. (2020). Additive manufacturing applications for industry 4.0: a systematic critical review. Buildings 10 (12), 231. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10120231.
Wu, P., Wang, X., & Wang, J. (2016). A critical review of the use of 3D printing in the construction industry. Automation in Construction, 68, 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.04.005
Wu, P., Wang, X., & Wang, J. (2016). A critical review of the use of 3D printing in the construction industry. Automation in Construction, 68, 21-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2016.04.005
Zhang, J., Lv, L., Jin, W., & Li, Z. (2018). Mechanical properties and microstructure of 3D printed concrete structures. Construction and Building Materials, 162, 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.12.009
