Shotcrete 3D Printing (SC3DP)
Additive manufacturing (AM) is a technology that opens up the potential to completely rethink the process of producing concrete components. In contrast, the conventional method involves the pouring of concrete into forms, and the associated costs of mold-making or formwork production have a major influence on design freedom as well as material consumption. In the past few years, the Shotcrete 3D Printing (SC3DP) process was developed at TU Braunschweig. This AM technology utilizes the free-form options provided by robotics-based manufacturing in order to place concrete in multiple layers so as to manufacture three-dimensional concrete elements. This fundamentally new manufacturing approach applies the material only where required for structural, functional or design reasons.
This paper will outline the current development status of the SC3DP technology. Furthermore, in-depth research into reinforcement integration and surface finishing will be discussed.