Comparative Analysis of Carbon-Emission Accounting and Carbon-Reduction-Effect of 3D Printed Concrete Structures at the Stage of Architecturalization (2024-09)¶

In recent years, China’s global share of energy consumption has been escalating annually, with carbon emissions from newly constructed buildings annually contributing approximately 18% of the country’s total emissions, indicating a significant potential for carbon reduction. Traditional construction methods have struggled to satisfy the requirements for green, low-carbon, and sustainable buildings. Consequently, the development of 3D-printed concrete structures represents an inevitable path towards digitizing the construction industry. Compared to conventional structural construction methods, 3D-printed building structures offer unique advantages such as formwork-free construction, labor savings, reduced construction waste, and shortened construction timelines. Drawing upon a case study of a 3D in-situ printed building as the engineering backdrop, this article proposes a carbon emission model specifically tailored for the physical phase of the selected boundaries and functional units. It further conducts a quantitative analysis of carbon emissions within this physical stage of 3D-printed construction. By designing three distinct construction methodologies—brick structure, cast-in-place concrete frame structure, and 3D-printed concrete structure—we compare and contrast the variations in carbon emissions across the material production, transportation, and construction processes within the physical phase. This comparison aims to provide insights into the environmental performance of different construction approaches and inform future decisionmaking towards more sustainable building practices.