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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Micro-masonry for 3D Additive Micromanufacturing
Published on: August 1, 2014
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Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Construction Materials and Form-finding Structures: A Review on Recent
Junli Liu1, Vuong Nguyen-Van1,2, Biranchi Panda3,4
1Department of Civil & Infrastructure Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
|January 20, 2023
Summary
3D concrete printing (3DCP) can be more sustainable by using eco-friendly materials and advanced design tools. This review explores green materials, structural optimization, and modularization for sustainable additive manufacturing in construction.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Sustainable Construction
Background:
- Growing interest in sustainable construction methods.
- Advancements in digital design and additive manufacturing (3D printing).
- Need for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional cement-based materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review green cementitious materials for 3D concrete printing (3DCP).
- To explore structural optimization and modularization for sustainable 3DCP.
- To identify research gaps and provide recommendations for sustainable additive manufacturing in construction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of sustainable materials for extrusion-based 3D printing.
- Analysis of topology optimization techniques for 3DCP.
- Summary of global research and industrial applications in 3DCP.
Main Results:
- Overview of fresh and hardened mechanical properties of various sustainable materials.
- Discussion on different topology optimization methods.
- Synthesis of current research and industrial trends in sustainable 3DCP.
Conclusions:
- Identified research and practical gaps in sustainable 3DCP.
- Recommendations for material development and digital design tools.
- Potential for 3DCP to achieve sustainability goals in construction.
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As the construction industry moves towards more eco-friendly practices, concrete's adaptability and its ability to incorporate sustainable features make it a key material in the drive towards greener building solutions.
There are multiple approaches to achieve sustainability in a commercial concrete building. For instance, construct a concrete parking area under the building, utilizing pervious concrete paver blocks in open areas to facilitate rainwater collection through an underground cistern.
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