Integrated Buildings & Structures

The video link below shows the first building in Europe created using 3D printing. The past several years have left us with many articles discussing current research and indicating that the construction industry has the potential to greatly benefit from this technology - especially as the construction trades labor shortage becomes more acute - once it becomes more scalable (and makes the ROI on the cost of a 3D printer worth it). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyxooJ-hEpA

What do you think about this new innovative technology? Is anyone doing research in this area or has seen 3D printing used on a project? For a quick example, although it's not an engineering application, I've worked with an architect that used a 3D printer to create all the cabinet door knobs for a building project.

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Stephanie Slocum P.E., M.ASCE
Founder
Engineers Rising LLC
www.engineersrising.com
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Thank you for highlighting 3D printing.

I've been tracking large-scale 3D printing mostly of civil engineering types of structures and structure components. It's in it infancy and so different than traditional on-site and precast construction that it will initially be ignored, discredited, and opposed.

I understand the Henry Ford once said, if, before the automobile you asked people what transportation improvement they wanted, they would have said "faster horses." Knowing that, he gave them what they did not know they wanted -- the automobile -- and they loved it.

If we ask ourselves what on-site or precast concrete construction improvements we want, would we say better concrete, faster forming, more attractive surfaces, etc.? Or are we likely to say we want a completely different approach in which there are no forms, any shape is possible, waste is minimized, options to concrete appear, construction/fabrication time is reduced, portable construction machines abound, buildings are mass produced on site, initial cost per square foot declines, annual energy costs drop, one set of job skills becomes obsolete, a new set of job skills appear, ....?

I suspect we would tend to chose the first. However, we will, like the automobile and the electronic calculator and the smart phone, get the latter and love it.




------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

------------------------------

Indeed, 3D printing in construction doesn't have to follow current construction material. Most likely it would be totally different, or at least very modified. For example, it can use fibre-reinforced concrete to eliminate the need for complicated reinforcement. Shapes will be simpler and the architecture of it will be adapted accordingly. Perhaps a totally new perspective in construction. But the current methods will persist, as trains survived the presence of cars and planes.

However, learning from history, we shouldn't be carried away too far. Remember: after Nicola Tesla managed to reduce the thickness of power cables (by using alternating current instead of continuous current) he was curried away into believing that he can reduce such wires to zero, by transmitting power wirelessly. He failed, causing big losses to those who financed him.       

By the way, Henry Ford did not invent the car: he was 12 years old when the first Benz car was on the road in 1885. And that was not the first internal combustion engine powered vehicle either. Ford is credited for first mass production of cars (in 1913) by which time many quality, but expensive cars were already on the road.






------------------------------
Neil Kazen, M.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.
FASCE, FCPCI, FEC,
Retired Structural Engineering Manager, Transportation Division, SNC-Lavalin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2018 15:47
From: Stuart Walesh
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Thank you for highlighting 3D printing.

I've been tracking large-scale 3D printing mostly of civil engineering types of structures and structure components. It's in it infancy and so different than traditional on-site and precast construction that it will initially be ignored, discredited, and opposed.

I understand the Henry Ford once said, if, before the automobile you asked people what transportation improvement they wanted, they would have said "faster horses." Knowing that, he gave them what they did not know they wanted -- the automobile -- and they loved it.

If we ask ourselves what on-site or precast concrete construction improvements we want, would we say better concrete, faster forming, more attractive surfaces, etc.? Or are we likely to say we want a completely different approach in which there are no forms, any shape is possible, waste is minimized, options to concrete appear, construction/fabrication time is reduced, portable construction machines abound, buildings are mass produced on site, initial cost per square foot declines, annual energy costs drop, one set of job skills becomes obsolete, a new set of job skills appear, ....?

I suspect we would tend to chose the first. However, we will, like the automobile and the electronic calculator and the smart phone, get the latter and love it.




------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

------------------------------

Neil Kazen is correct about Henry Ford's contributions. I was too casual with my language. Ford and his personnel created the mass production system which greatly reduced the cost of cars and, as a result, greatly expanded car ownership.

As an aside, in the very early 1900's, Henry Ford's personnel visited the Chicago stockyards. They saw how carcasses were systematically disassembled as the carcasses moved on an overhead conveyor past workers equipped with special cutting tools. The Ford personnel  reversed the process so that the moving vehicle was assembled as it moved past fixed workers.

------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 13:32
From: Neil Kazen
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Indeed, 3D printing in construction doesn't have to follow current construction material. Most likely it would be totally different, or at least very modified. For example, it can use fibre-reinforced concrete to eliminate the need for complicated reinforcement. Shapes will be simpler and the architecture of it will be adapted accordingly. Perhaps a totally new perspective in construction. But the current methods will persist, as trains survived the presence of cars and planes.

However, learning from history, we shouldn't be carried away too far. Remember: after Nicola Tesla managed to reduce the thickness of power cables (by using alternating current instead of continuous current) he was curried away into believing that he can reduce such wires to zero, by transmitting power wirelessly. He failed, causing big losses to those who financed him.

By the way, Henry Ford did not invent the car: he was 12 years old when the first Benz car was on the road in 1885. And that was not the first internal combustion engine powered vehicle either. Ford is credited for first mass production of cars (in 1913) by which time many quality, but expensive cars were already on the road.






------------------------------
Neil Kazen, M.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.
FASCE, FCPCI, FEC,
Retired Structural Engineering Manager, Transportation Division, SNC-Lavalin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2018 15:47
From: Stuart Walesh
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Thank you for highlighting 3D printing.

I've been tracking large-scale 3D printing mostly of civil engineering types of structures and structure components. It's in it infancy and so different than traditional on-site and precast construction that it will initially be ignored, discredited, and opposed.

I understand the Henry Ford once said, if, before the automobile you asked people what transportation improvement they wanted, they would have said "faster horses." Knowing that, he gave them what they did not know they wanted -- the automobile -- and they loved it.

If we ask ourselves what on-site or precast concrete construction improvements we want, would we say better concrete, faster forming, more attractive surfaces, etc.? Or are we likely to say we want a completely different approach in which there are no forms, any shape is possible, waste is minimized, options to concrete appear, construction/fabrication time is reduced, portable construction machines abound, buildings are mass produced on site, initial cost per square foot declines, annual energy costs drop, one set of job skills becomes obsolete, a new set of job skills appear, ....?

I suspect we would tend to chose the first. However, we will, like the automobile and the electronic calculator and the smart phone, get the latter and love it.




------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

​Stuart, I don't believe you were incorrect at all in your original statement about Ford. You are absolutely correct in saying Henry Ford brought people the automobile. You didn't say he invented it.

Certainly as Neil pointed out, someone else invented the automobile. It's not likely that any one person can actually be credited with it's invention. Many can be credited with participating in it's development including Ford.

Henry Ford can accurately be credited with giving people the automobile in my view. Before him, the majority of people could never afford one. No one else did what Ford did which was to invent a manufacturing system to bring a car to a nation of people.

------------------------------
Brett King P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Structural Engineer
GHD Inc.
Lake Oswego OR
(971)925-3743
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2018 07:32
From: Stuart Walesh
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Neil Kazen is correct about Henry Ford's contributions. I was too casual with my language. Ford and his personnel created the mass production system which greatly reduced the cost of cars and, as a result, greatly expanded car ownership.

As an aside, in the very early 1900's, Henry Ford's personnel visited the Chicago stockyards. They saw how carcasses were systematically disassembled as the carcasses moved on an overhead conveyor past workers equipped with special cutting tools. The Ford personnel  reversed the process so that the moving vehicle was assembled as it moved past fixed workers.

------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 13:32
From: Neil Kazen
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Indeed, 3D printing in construction doesn't have to follow current construction material. Most likely it would be totally different, or at least very modified. For example, it can use fibre-reinforced concrete to eliminate the need for complicated reinforcement. Shapes will be simpler and the architecture of it will be adapted accordingly. Perhaps a totally new perspective in construction. But the current methods will persist, as trains survived the presence of cars and planes.

However, learning from history, we shouldn't be carried away too far. Remember: after Nicola Tesla managed to reduce the thickness of power cables (by using alternating current instead of continuous current) he was curried away into believing that he can reduce such wires to zero, by transmitting power wirelessly. He failed, causing big losses to those who financed him.

By the way, Henry Ford did not invent the car: he was 12 years old when the first Benz car was on the road in 1885. And that was not the first internal combustion engine powered vehicle either. Ford is credited for first mass production of cars (in 1913) by which time many quality, but expensive cars were already on the road.






------------------------------
Neil Kazen, M.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.
FASCE, FCPCI, FEC,
Retired Structural Engineering Manager, Transportation Division, SNC-Lavalin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada


Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2018 15:47
From: Stuart Walesh
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Thank you for highlighting 3D printing.

I've been tracking large-scale 3D printing mostly of civil engineering types of structures and structure components. It's in it infancy and so different than traditional on-site and precast construction that it will initially be ignored, discredited, and opposed.

I understand the Henry Ford once said, if, before the automobile you asked people what transportation improvement they wanted, they would have said "faster horses." Knowing that, he gave them what they did not know they wanted -- the automobile -- and they loved it.

If we ask ourselves what on-site or precast concrete construction improvements we want, would we say better concrete, faster forming, more attractive surfaces, etc.? Or are we likely to say we want a completely different approach in which there are no forms, any shape is possible, waste is minimized, options to concrete appear, construction/fabrication time is reduced, portable construction machines abound, buildings are mass produced on site, initial cost per square foot declines, annual energy costs drop, one set of job skills becomes obsolete, a new set of job skills appear, ....?

I suspect we would tend to chose the first. However, we will, like the automobile and the electronic calculator and the smart phone, get the latter and love it.




------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFuture.com

I think it is a great development and looking forward to the day when it will be commonly used!

------------------------------
Swarna Raju C.Eng, M.ASCE
TranTech Engineering
Bellevue WA
(425)990-4158
------------------------------

Along the same line of thought of new processes and disruptive technologies, it may seem logical to think that Engineering and Architectural Schools and Research and Development Centers would have to start introducing testing on all sort of 3D printed products, parts, and materials that will be used in the construction industry and that will be incorporated into main stream building technologies. At the same time, Engineering and Architectural Schools may have to restructure their curriculum to make room to teach new courses that will supplement the courses that form the basis of traditional materials. Is the strength of 3D printed cementitious and concrete samples in the same order of magnitude of traditionally produced concrete ... ? Building Codes may also have to make room for this type of new 3D printed products to make sure that the safety, health, and welfare of the people and goods is maintained at the highest level at all times.

------------------------------
Pedro Munoz Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Principal
PRM Engineering, LLC
Methuen MA
(978)7388001
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 12:44
From: Swarna Raju
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

I think it is a great development and looking forward to the day when it will be commonly used!

------------------------------
Swarna Raju C.Eng, M.ASCE
TranTech Engineering
Bellevue WA
(425)990-4158
------------------------------

Pedro Munoz helpfully raises the "strength" aspect of 3D-printed products.

Because the products are created in a layered manner,  a product's mechanical properties are likely to be anisotropic, that is, different along different along different axes.​

------------------------------
Stu Walesh PhD, PE
Consultant - Teacher - Author
219-242-1704
www.HelpingYouEngineerYourFurture.com

------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 18:44
From: Pedro Munoz
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Along the same line of thought of new processes and disruptive technologies, it may seem logical to think that Engineering and Architectural Schools and Research and Development Centers would have to start introducing testing on all sort of 3D printed products, parts, and materials that will be used in the construction industry and that will be incorporated into main stream building technologies. At the same time, Engineering and Architectural Schools may have to restructure their curriculum to make room to teach new courses that will supplement the courses that form the basis of traditional materials. Is the strength of 3D printed cementitious and concrete samples in the same order of magnitude of traditionally produced concrete ... ? Building Codes may also have to make room for this type of new 3D printed products to make sure that the safety, health, and welfare of the people and goods is maintained at the highest level at all times.

------------------------------
Pedro Munoz Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Principal
PRM Engineering, LLC
Methuen MA
(978)7388001
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 12:44
From: Swarna Raju
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

I think it is a great development and looking forward to the day when it will be commonly used!

------------------------------
Swarna Raju C.Eng, M.ASCE
TranTech Engineering
Bellevue WA
(425)990-4158

Greetings everyone, I want to share with you the activities from ACI committee devoted to this matter: Committee Home

Concrete		remove preview
Committee Home Committee Mission: Develop and report information on three-dimensional printing (3-D) printing, or additive manufacturing with inorganic cementitious materials. Goals: 1. Develop publications relating to additive manufacturing with cement-based materials. One focusing on "big picture" impact and challenges and the other focusing on construction applications. 2. View this on Concrete >

I hope you can join these type of discussions and contribute to new technologies development, keeping or improving properties and performance.

Regards,


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Andres Guzman Ing., M.ASCE
PROFESSOR
UNIVERSIDAD DEL NORTE
Barranquilla
573004284680
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 18:44
From: Pedro Munoz
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

Along the same line of thought of new processes and disruptive technologies, it may seem logical to think that Engineering and Architectural Schools and Research and Development Centers would have to start introducing testing on all sort of 3D printed products, parts, and materials that will be used in the construction industry and that will be incorporated into main stream building technologies. At the same time, Engineering and Architectural Schools may have to restructure their curriculum to make room to teach new courses that will supplement the courses that form the basis of traditional materials. Is the strength of 3D printed cementitious and concrete samples in the same order of magnitude of traditionally produced concrete ... ? Building Codes may also have to make room for this type of new 3D printed products to make sure that the safety, health, and welfare of the people and goods is maintained at the highest level at all times.

------------------------------
Pedro Munoz Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Principal
PRM Engineering, LLC
Methuen MA
(978)7388001
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-28-2018 12:44
From: Swarna Raju
Subject: When will 3D printing a building become reality?

I think it is a great development and looking forward to the day when it will be commonly used!

------------------------------
Swarna Raju C.Eng, M.ASCE
TranTech Engineering
Bellevue WA
(425)990-4158

​In direct response to your question, I think 3D printing of buildings is already a reality. The US Army has been developing their version of the technology for their needs for example. I think it's more of a question about when will it be a reality with respect to widespread commercial use. I believe within 5 to 10 years there will be construction innovators bringing this to market by offering simple 3D printed buildings for a variety of purposes.


Army Researchers Refine 3D-Printed Concrete Barracks

Enr		remove preview
Army Researchers Refine 3D-Printed Concrete Barracks U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers' researchers, leading a team that recently completed the 3D printing of 9.5-ft-tall reinforced concrete walls for a 32-ft x 16-ft deployable barracks, are setting their sights on a future project--3D printing of concrete roof beams--even before they have put the precast concrete lid on the printed walls. View this on Enr >

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Brett King P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Structural Engineer
GHD Inc.
Lake Oswego OR
(971)925-3743
------------------------------