News - Carnegie Mellon University: When natural disaster strikes, a building’s survival often depends on how it’s built. Engineers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a fast, highly accurate simulator for spray-based concrete 3D printing that could enable stronger, more complex and less wasteful construction by predicting how concrete behaves and solidifies, even around rebar.
2 comments:
It would be interesting to read more about how this technology and shotcrete in general works, because without a surrounding form and without being vibrated, how is this able to repace typical structural foundations? Does the shotcrete hold itself in place while being sprayed, allowing for the 3D printing like nature of the technology? Further, if this is the case, does it have the same strength as typical concrete, or is the ability to not vibrate the layers (since it has hardened and likely needs to keep its shape regardless) cause a lowered structural rating? Lastly, if it can work around rebar and other strengthening components, how does the actual arm do this? Is it all from the top or is there any angular consideration for the spray crete? It would be cool to see one in action here at CMU or see a video of what it can create. One final thing - can it also be made flat? Or is that something that isn’t as necessary and or just an auxiliary result of forms?
3D Printing using concrete seems like a really neat concept, although I’m not sure how much is changing with this new technology. The result seems to be rather choppy between the layers, which seems like it may be a structural concern? I’m not a structural engineer by any means, but I’ve typically seen structural concrete to be smooth rather than layered like the ‘3D printing.’ But also the layering may be fine, and the extra material that creates the ‘layer’ patterns may not be a concern at all. Also, it seems like calling it 3D printing may be somewhat inaccurate, as it appears to apply the material around rebar, rather than creating new structures on its own like a more typical metal or, more commonly, plastic 3D printer would. Regardless, this still seems like a cool new innovation, even if the technology may need a little bit more time to fully mature.
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