3D Concrete Printing Frame Structure in Granular Medium (2024-04)¶

The field of architecture is experiencing an increase in demand for custom fabrication methods, driven by the advancements in digital design tools and techniques. However, in conventional concrete construction systems, achieving extensive customization often leads to high costs and prolonged fabrication times due to the complexities associated with formwork fabrication. This paper presents an alternative 3D concrete printing method named Concrete Printing in Granular Medium (CPGM). Unlike the current layered extrusion 3D printed concrete technology, CPGM extrudes concrete within a granular medium, which enables greater freedom in printable geometry without being limited by gravity constraints. The primary aim of CPGM is to facilitate the rapid fabrication of intricate concrete elements by removing the stacking process involved in layered extrusion. This paper outlines the design and fabrication workflow of the CPGM method and presents a case study involving creating a scaled model of a singleobjective optimized concrete frame structure. Through proof-ofconcept projects, the paper explores the potential benefits, current challenges, and future development of CPGM.