The New Standard Is Biodigital: Durable and Elastic 3D-Printed Biodigital Clay Bricks

Abstract

In a previously published study, the authors explained the formal design efficiency of the 3D-printed biodigital clay bricks 3DPBDCB: a project that aimed to change the conventional methods of clay brick design and mass production. This was achieved by employing the behavioural algorithms of reaction-diffusion and the shortest path that were extracted from the exact material physical properties and hydrophilic behaviours of clay and controlled material deposition 3D printing to create sustainable clay bricks. Sustainability in their use in the built environment and their production processes, with full potential sustainability aspects such as passive cooling, thermal and acoustical insulation, and bio receptivity. The current work studies the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed biodigital clay bricks as elastic and durable clay bricks whose properties depend mainly on their geometrical composition and form. Each of the three families of the 3D-printed biodigital clay bricks (V1, V2, V3) includes the linear model of a double line of 0.5 cm thickness and a bulk model of 55% density were tested for compression and elasticity and compared to models of standard industrial clay bricks. The results revealed that the best elasticity pre-cracking was achieved by the V2 linear model, followed by the V3 linear model, which also achieved the highest post-cracking elasticity—enduring until 150 kN pre-cracking and 200 kN post-cracking, which makes the V3 linear model eligible for potential application in earthquake-resistant buildings. While the same model V3-linear achieved the second-best compressive strength enduring until 170 kN. The best compressive strength was recorded by the V1 linear and bulk model enduring up to 240 kN without collapsing, exceeding the strength and resistance of the industrial clay bricks with both models, where the bulk and the perforated collapsed at 200 kN and 140 kN, respectively. Thus, the mass production and integration of the V1 bulk and linear model and the V3 linear model are recommended for the construction industry and the architectural built environment for their multi-aspect sustainability and enhanced mechanical properties.

Artificial reefs through additive manufacturing: a review of their design, purposes and fabrication process for marine restoration and management

“…Some studies introduced computer algorithms to create lattice structures (repeating patterns forming 3D shapes), textures and self-supporting patterns through PDM controlled material deposition (Estévez and Abdallah, 2022) or through tool path planning (Hergel et al , 2019). This novel method enhances paste material viscosity to create textures, thereby increasing the roughness essential for the settlement of marine organisms within micro-habitat.…”

Biowelding 3D-Printed Biodigital Brick of Seashell-Based Biocomposite by Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelium

“…The geometrical design of the biodigital brick linear model V3 has been reported to achieve the best elasticity performance in comparison to the other biodigital and standard clay bricks [1,2]. It has achieved the second-best pre-cracking elasticity under (150 N) and the highest post-cracking elasticity under 200 N, while achieving the second-best compressive strength until 170 N. The current study exploits the formal efficiency of the V3 linear model in developing 3D-printed, seashell-based biocomposite material that is subject for biowelding with mycelium, where the brick's bioreceptivity will contribute to its material coherence through bio-welding.…”