Concrete Choreography
Digital fabrication processes with concrete, such as 3D printing, require a deep understanding of how strength evolves in cementitious materials, and how to control it at precise points during the process. The field is in need of both fundamental and practical understanding and advice on how to develop these processes successfully, minimizing costly trial-and-error approaches. Our recent invited paper, from the Cement and Concrete Research Digital Concrete 2020 Special Edition, touches on these important topics to scientists and practitioners, in particular: 1) how yield stresses evolve at the microstructural level in cementitious materials, 2) new testing methods to characterize the “buildability” of digital fabrication processes with concrete, 3) new chemical systems of rheological control (“Set on Demand”), and 4) stability criterion for objects during and after production. These principles are keystone principles that have enabled the realization of several large scale demonstrators with the NCCR Digital Fabrication in Architecture, including the Concrete Choreography columns installed for the Origen Festival in Riom, Graubünden.
Read the full paper external pagehere:
Reiter, L.; Wangler, T.; Anton, A.; Flatt, R. J. Cement and Concrete Research Setting on Demand for Digital Concrete – Principles , Measurements , Chemistry , Validation. Cem. Concr. Res. 2021, 132 (January 2020), 106047