The impacts of fabrication systems on 3D concrete printing building forms

Abstract

Recently, 3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology starts entering the market from factories and laboratories, contributing to the creation of new construction methods and architectural forms. However, since the technologies of most 3DCP institutions are independently developed, there is a lack of consensus in terms of construction methods and development approaches in the industry. In this paper, based on 42 3DCP architectural works completed in last five years, a quantitative analysis was made to evaluate the impacts of the fabrication system on 3DCP building forms. The paper introduced three criteria, including Workspace Index, Geometric Complexity Index, and Tectonic Prospect Index, analyzing and answering the discussions about “adopting in-situ printing or prefabrication”, “using gantry printers or robotic arms” from the perspective of architectural form. By analyzing specific construction methods and design strategies in these projects, the research summarized three development trends, “mobile equipment, algorithmic structure, and intelligent construction”, which will affect the future development of 3DCP building forms. Finally, the paper discussed the advantages, limitations, and potential of four different 3DCP fabrication systems, expecting to point out the directions to further optimize each system and realize more diverse 3DCP buildings.