3D Printing of Concrete within the South African Building and Construction Industry (2018-11)¶

3D printing of concrete (3DPC) is a novel technology within the construction industry; its concept has transitioned from early industrial applications in the aerospace, medical and automobile sectors to recent explorations in academia and the construction industry. Recent interest in 3DPC in the construction industry can be ascribed to its comparative advantage regarding cost, waste, labour and time reductions. Moreover, 3DPC enables the free-form construction of complex geometries, increased customisation and the use of various construction materials. In light thereof, a 3DPC research program has been launched at the Centre for Development of Sustainable Infrastructure (CDSI) at Stellenbosch University. Subsequently, a rheologically-versatile, gantry type 3D concrete printer was designed and manufactured at the CDSI to enable fundamental research towards material development, characterisation and design. However, many 3DPC projects still only showcase the possibility of this novel technology but cease to portray an essential correlation between theoretical and practical application. For this to realise a fundamental comprehension of the print process particularities concerning the unique material properties of the printed object is required. Furthermore, to enable data collection, optimisation and industry applicability, benchmark structures are required to assess the buildability of 3D printed concrete elements. Additionally, considering the current status of global climate change the adoption of green engineering principles is paramount to ensure sustainable infrastructure development. Moreover, since the South African construction industry has embodied stagnation towards sustainable development when compared to other parts of the globe, it is a prime candidate for innovation and migration towards more sustainable solutions that address prevalent economic, social and environmental issues. Thus, there exists ample opportunity in addressing the challenges of sustainable development by revolutionising the way by which the South African construction industry utilises its primary resource, concrete, by adopting 3DPC as a construction method.