3DLightBeam
3DLightBeam © CREATE
ABOUT THE PROJECT
How can we use 3D Concrete Printing and performance-based design to reduce the weight of horizontal structures?
Combining computational design and the freedom of shape provided by 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) technology, the ongoing research project 3DLightBeam - 3D Printed Lightweight Beam challenges conventional reinforced concrete structures by exploring new design solutions for lightweight load-bearing concrete beams.
A series of full-scale reinforced concrete beams are 3D Printed in the Robotic 3DCP fabrication cell of the CREATE Lab and tested at the Structures Lab at SDU. Working towards the reduction of material usage, the design studies look at the material optimization and characterization for solid beams, the opportunities enabled by functionally grading applied to controlled toolpath generation for porous, stress-based 3D modelling. The produced structural elements take advantage of the high control over the printing parameters such as speed, layer width and height to optimize the final outcome.
The project is linked to parallel investigations on the anisotropic behaviour of 3DCP structures, where a series of specimens are tested for compression strength and rebar-concrete bonding with different printing directions.
PROJECT CREDITS
CREATE Group - Led by Ass. Prof. Dr. Roberto Naboni
Research Team: Ass. Prof. Dr. Roberto Naboni, Luca Breseghello, Filippo Meglioli
Structures Group - Led by Ass. Prof. Dr. Henrik Brøner Jørgensen
Team: Ass. Prof. Dr. Henrik Brøner Jørgensen, Mads Sørensen, Philip James Douglas, Simon Andreasen
University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Section for Civil and Architectural Engineering (CAE)
Industrial Partner for 3DCP
Hyperion Robotics
Project Partners:
Concrete material: Weber Saint-Gobain Denmark
Concrete Admixtures: Fosroc Denmark
Polypropylene Fibers: Danish Fibers