3D-Printable Concrete for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Abstract

Rapid construction with an energy-efficient approach is a major challenge in the present construction industry. Cement, a carbon-intensive material, is mainly used in the construction industry and hence increases the sector’s carbon footprint on the environment. The current review focuses on the study of 3D concrete printing (3DCP), in which cement is partially replaced with industrial byproducts such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash, and silica fume. Walling material is primarily targeted in 3DCP. There is a need to include energy efficiency to achieve a thermally comfortable environment. The life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete is studied to discover the potential conflicts affecting the environment. The sand-to-binder ratio is pivotal in determining the performance of concrete. The content of the supplements is decided based on this factor. The rheological, physical, and mechanical properties of 3DCP are studied further and analysed. GGBS demonstrates better performance in the compressive and flexure strength of concrete. The usage of fly ash and silica fume has reduced the thermal conductivity of the material, whereas GGBS has increased it. An LCA study shows that 3DCP can be made sustainable with the use of these supplementary cementitious materials.

Potential Role of GGBS and ACBFS Blast Furnace Slag at 90 Days for Application in Rigid Concrete Pavements

“…The pozzolanic action of slag used as a micro aggregate and filler (fine mass integrated into the cement matrix) resulted in a higher performance in the concrete with GGBS. At 56 days, its strength development matched conventional cement concrete's [25]. The incorporation of fly ash (FA) or GGBS into concrete resulted in 91-day compressive strengths similar to conventional concrete.…”

Selected Aspects of Sustainable Construction—Contemporary Opportunities for the Use of Timber in High and High-Rise Buildings

“…Most attention has been paid to the energy efficiency of buildings relating to their use phases and over the entire life cycle of buildings [12][13][14], as well as the energy performance of buildings with different material and functional solutions [15,16]. The issues related to sustainable energy systems are presented in [17,18], and they concern the reduction of the "embedded carbon footprint" relating to the building materials of fitting components and the load-bearing structure of buildings, among others [19][20][21][22].…”