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3D Printing Concrete


Our team has developed a manufacturing process that can 3D print cementitious objects using a methodology called "particle bed 3D printing by selective binder activation". The objects can be produced with any shape, including overhangs and voids that are difficult or impossible to achieve with other approaches. The resulting artifacts have good geometric accuracy and mechanical characteristics. Innovative approaches are being used also to integrate reinforcement. Finally, new techniques for multi-material topology optimization are being developed to take full advantage of these new manufacturing capabilities. This project is partially funded by and completed in collaboration with Buzzi Unicem USA. Additional funding is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Comunity and Economic Development.

Products

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Exhibit

Since May 2023, the work of the team has the privilege of being featured in a special exhibit at the National Museum of Industrial History, to showcase the products of this new 3D printing technique and explain the design and manufacturing process behind them. Visit the museum!



exhibit exhibit exhibit exhibit exhibit


Publications and Media

EMI/PMC 3D-printed concrete highlighted at National Museum of Industrial History.
Rossin College News, June 9, 2023.
EMI/PMC Megan Pildis.
National Museum of Industrial History features special exhibit on innovations in concrete.
National Museum of Industrial History press release, May 23, 2023.
EMI/PMC Paolo Bocchini, John Fox, Clay Naito.
Sustainable concrete by selective binder activation and innovative reinforcement.
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance, 2021.
EMI/PMC Amanda Allekotte.
Manufacturing the Impossible with Cement.
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance, Dec. 2020.
EMI/PMC Joseph Ingaglio, John Fox, Clay J. Naito, Paolo Bocchini.
Material characteristics of binder jet 3D printed hydrated CSA cement with the addition of fine aggregates.
Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier, Vol. 206, p. 494-503, 2019.


Team

PB Paolo Bocchini
Professor and Director of Graduate Programs
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University
Website: www.paolobocchini.com
JF John Fox
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University
Website: engineering.lehigh.edu/faculty/john-t-fox
CN Clay Naito
Professor
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University
Website: www.lehigh.edu/~cjn3/
NN Nik Nikolov
Associate Professor
Department of Art, Architecture, and Design
Lehigh University
Website: aad.lehigh.edu/nik-nikolov
UO Urinrin Otite
Doctoral Student
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University
HS Xingjian Wang
Doctoral Student
Department of Civil Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University




































Sponsors

The financial support of Buzzi Unicem USA and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA) is gratefully acknowledged.


Contacts

For inquiries, questions, suggestions, and potential collaborations, please contact Dr. Paolo Bocchini at paolo.bocchini@lehigh.edu