Thermal performance and life cycle analysis of 3D printed concrete wall building

Abstract

Automated construction process with extrusion-based 3D concrete printing (3DCP) is widely recognised due to its ability to construct complex freeform geometrical shapes. Furthermore, the automation process reduces labour and minimises material wastage, thus improving productivity. The structural performance of printed structures has been widely discussed; however, addressing the knowledge gap in energy performance and their environmental impact needs further investigation. Thus, this study investigated and compared the insulation characteristics, life cycle cost and environmental impact assessment of 3DCP structures with traditional reinforced concrete members. The evaluation of the insulation properties of 3D printable concrete allows the characterisation of operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions incurred from the additional heating and cooling systems. Furthermore, this study also suggested a method to enhance the thermal resistance of 3DCP with recycled fibre recovered from face mask waste. A comparison between face mask fibre-reinforced 3D-printed wall element and conventional reinforced concrete wall is also performed across the thermal, life cycle cost and environmental impact parameters. The results showed that the insulation properties of 3DCP walls were increased by 49.5% with the addition of face mask fibres compared to RC walls. This results in reduced energy consumption from additional heating and cooling systems along with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, thereby improving the energy performance of the building. Further, face mask fibre-reinforced printed walls showed a reduction in the life cycle cost, mainly in the operation stage, due to the low labour requirement and elimination of formwork. Moreover, a significant reduction in the depletion of resources and ozone depletion was observed for 3DCP face mask fibre-reinforced walls, along with the reduced impact on human health and ecosystem damage. Consequently, the incorporation of face mask fibres into the 3DCP process paves the way for its potential in constructing energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings.