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Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is poised to address such critical challenges as low productivity in construction while offering design flexibility and material usage optimization. Although prior research focused on integrating digital design and fabrication to generate instructions for three-dimensional (3D) printers, existing approaches fall short of developing a building information modeling (BIM) model with the requisite detail for coordination with other construction activities and a lack of customization for defining the printing sequence. This paper streamlines the automation of the modeling process and generation of BIM parameters to consolidate project planning information within a unified level of development (LOD) 400 BIM model. The proposed workflow introduces an automation tool designed to enhance the LOD in 3DCP BIM elements from a lower LOD to LOD 400, which is suitable for fabrication. This proposed approach contributes to industry practices by providing an automated tailored solution for contractors to customize printing sequences and facilitate seamless coordination between 3D-printed elements and nonprinted components, improving overall project efficiency and precision. The outcomes shed light on project visualization and coordination through a detailed 3DCP BIM model and introduce planning parameters for enabling a printing strategy that can incorporate the contractor’s expertise in contrast to other slicer software.
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This content will become publicly available on October 8, 2026
Spatiotemporal temperature prediction in 3D-printed sulfur concrete for automated construction on Earth and beyond
Construction 3D Printing (C3DP) with sulfur concrete holds great potential for sustainable construction on Earth and beyond. However, a key challenge is optimizing the thermal C3DP process to minimize layer deformations while enhancing interlayer adhesion for improved mechanical strength. To tackle this challenge, this paper presents a physics-based model of heat transfer within a 3D-printed sulfur concrete structure. Numerical implementations of the model are proposed for 3D and 2D structures in Cartesian coordinates. Upon calibration, the model estimates the spatiotemporal distribution of the temperature within the structure based on thermal properties, printing parameters, and environmental conditions. The model is calibrated using experimental data, where the effect of printing parameters is analyzed, and is then utilized to simulate multiple terrestrial and Martian construction scenarios. It identifies a range of printing speeds and interlayer delays that optimize extrudate properties, while also enabling automated control of the thermal C3DP process for optimal performance.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2327469
- PAR ID:
- 10641869
- Publisher / Repository:
- Elsevier
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Automation in construction
- ISSN:
- 1872-7891
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Construction 3D printing planetary construction sulfur concrete thermal modeling process control
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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