3D Printing of raw earth composites – Effect of low environmental impact binder on the process and material properties

Fahfouhi, Karim

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/8034

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Authors

Fahfouhi, Karim

Advisor(s)

Bártolo, Helena Maria Coelho da Rocha Terreiro Galha da Silva

Craveiro, Flávio Gabriel da Silva

Abstract(s)

The rapid rate of climate change is increasingly affecting our everyday life and disrupting the economy worldwide. The global construction industry is a major CO₂ emitter and a huge consumer of natural resources and energy. Sustainability is a major concern, so the construction sector must minimize its impact on the environment, embracing a radical transformation by minimizing its impact on the environment, addressing this way the climate emergency. Europe is committed to being the first carbon-neutral continent, promoting environmental and social change by addressing the challenges of becoming more resilient, sustainable, and socially inclusive. Over centuries, raw earth construction materials and techniques have been used to build houses, mainly due to their minimal carbon footprint, low thermal conductivity, and good hygroscopic properties. Natural fibers were added to the earth matrix to improve its performance. Today, there is a rising interest in earthen composites as a building material, mainly due to their many advantages in comparison with conventional construction materials. Using local materials can reduce embodied energy in the transportation and storage of materials. Earth-based materials are also better suited for the environment. The need to advance the green transition towards a more circular economy is driving the construction sector towards a more efficient use of energy, natural resources, and materials, incorporating low embodied carbon materials and new technologies. Construction has been experiencing a digital revolution by incorporating new technologies and construction processes, such as Additive Manufacturing (AM), also called 3D Printing (3DP). The integration of 3DP into construction processes will allow for greater flexibility in design and customization, with the emergence of complex shapes and new materials, as well as reducing costs, time and waste. However, digital fabrication in construction is still evolving, holding great potential for future construction automation, and presenting several advantages over conventional construction technologies and processes. The development of material compositions with appropriate flowability, extrudability, buildability, to meet the 3-D printing process requisites is still a major challenge for the application of 3-D printing. In this research work, different earth-based composites and binders were investigated, on processing aspects and properties, for future digital extrusion.