Additive manufacturing of concrete in construction: potentials and challenges of 3D concrete printing
Open accessAbstract
Additive manufacturing is gaining ground in the construction industry. The potential to improve on current construction methods is significant. One of such methods being explored currently, both in academia and in construction practice, is the additive manufacturing of concrete (AMoC). Albeit a steadily growing number of researchers and private enterprises active in this field, AMoC is still in its infancy. Different variants in this family of manufacturing methods are being developed and improved continuously. Fundamental scientific understanding of the relations between design, material, process, and product is being explored. The collective body of work in that area is still very limited. After sketching the potential of AMoC for construction, this paper introduces the variants of AMoC under development around the globe and goes on to describe one of these in detail, the 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) facility of the Eindhoven University of Technology. It is compared to other AMoC methods as well as to 3D printing in general. Subsequently, the paper will address the characteristics of 3DCP product geometry and structure, and discuss issues on parameter relations and experimental research. Finally, it will present the primary obstacles that stand between the potential of 3DCP and large-scale application in practice, and discuss the expected evolution of AMoC in general.
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The contour crafting method uses liquid binder to crystallize materials.
“The D-shape method uses binder jetting to produce objects, while the contour crafting method uses liquid binder to crystallize materials, making them suitable for large-scale object manufacturing, e.g., lunar base.”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Section 2.3 (page unavailable) distinguishes the methods: D-Shape deposits powder followed by binder, whereas contour crafting stacks filaments. The claim assigns the binder-based process to contour crafting; the paper assigns it to D-Shape and does not describe crystallization as part of contour crafting. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredContour crafting is suitable for large-scale object manufacturing, such as a lunar base.
“The D-shape method uses binder jetting to produce objects, while the contour crafting method uses liquid binder to crystallize materials, making them suitable for large-scale object manufacturing, e.g., lunar base.”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Section 2.3 describes contour crafting as an approach used for construction-scale printing and says gantry robots are commonly used for large projects. It does not identify a lunar base as a contour-crafting application; the lunar-outpost work appears only in the References, without that connection. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA variety of 3D printing technologies have been developed using lunar regolith, simulant, and other materials as raw materials, including D-shape, contour crafting, and concrete printing methods.
“By taking lunar regolith, simulant, and some other materials as the raw materials, a variety of 3D printing technologies have been developed, including but not limited to the D-shape, contour crafting, and concrete printing methods. 63-65”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Section 2.1 (History; page unavailable) describes contour crafting and D-Shape, and the paper also discusses concrete printing. It does not say that these methods were developed using lunar regolith or simulant as raw materials. Lunar soil appears in a cited work’s title in the References, not as a stated material for the methods listed. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe D-shape method uses binder jetting to produce objects.
“The D-shape method uses binder jetting to produce objects, while the contour crafting method uses liquid binder to crystallize materials, making them suitable for large-scale object manufacturing, e.g., lunar base.”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
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Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
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- Authors
- Bos, F., Wolfs, R., Ahmed, Z., & Salet, T.
- Affiliations
- Eindhoven University of Technology (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Bos, Freek
- Venue
- Virtual and Physical Prototyping
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-07-02
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 209-225
- ISSN
- 1745-2759 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-2767
- OpenAlex
- W2503299386
- Cited by
- 1,257
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 155 · 2025: 141 · 2024: 173 · 2023: 162 · 2022: 155 · 2021: 138 · 2020: 151 · 2019: 91 · 2018: 73 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 66.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Virtual and Physical Prototyping (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Ballast Nedam, BAM Infraconsult bv, Bekaert, Concrete Valley, CRH, Cybe, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, SGS Intron, SKKG, Van Wijnen, Verhoeven Timmerfabriek, and Witteveen+Bos [grant number (3D printing of sustainable concrete structures)
- Ballast Nedam, BAM Infraconsult bv, Bekaert, Concrete Valley, CRH, Cybe, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, SGS Intron, SKKG, Van Wijnen, Verhoeven Timmerfabriek, and Witteveen+Bos (3D printing of sustainable concrete structures)
- Ballast Nedam, BAM Infraconsult bv, Bekaert, Concrete Valley, CRH, Cybe, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, SGS Intron, SKKG, Van Wijnen, Verhoeven Timmerfabriek, and Witteveen+Bos [grant number (3D printing of sustainable concrete structures)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Architecture › Architecture and Computational Design
- Keywords
- additive manufacturing of concrete, 3D concrete printing, construction industry, 3D printing, product geometry, process parameters
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