Customized 3D Printable Concrete (2025-03)¶

3-D printing technology has emerged as a transformative solution for the construction industry, addressing issues such as prolonged construction time, extensive labor requirements, and high carbon emissions. However, the adoption rate of 3-D concrete printing (3-DCP) remains slow, particularly in developing countries. This paper systematically reviews the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of 3-DCP and proposes a methodological framework for customized 3-D printable concrete (3-DPC) using locally available materials. The review was conducted by manually analyzing 124 research/review papers, narrowing them down to 34 key papers that address critical aspects of materials, printability, and process improvements. The findings emphasize that material customization plays a crucial role in reducing costs while enhancing the practicality of 3-DCP applications. An Indian case study is discussed, where customized 3-DPC resulted in a 40% reduction in construction costs. However, the exact recipe of how they built their customized 3-DPC remains unrevealed. The proposed framework provides practical guidelines for researchers and practitioners to develop tailored 3-DPC solutions that can accelerate technology adoption in both developed and developing regions.