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Sub-Additive 3D Printing of Optimized Double Curved Concrete Lattice Structures

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Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art and Design 2018 (ROBARCH 2018)

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Abstract

The research presented in this paper investigates architectural-scale concrete 3D printing for the fabrication of rapidly-constructed, structurally-optimized concrete lattice structures. Sub-Additive Manufacturing utilizes a three-dimensional tool path for deposition of material over a mechanically-shaped substructure of reusable aggregate. This process expedites the production of doubly-curved concrete form by replacing traditional formwork casting or horizontal corbeling with spatial concrete arching. Creating robust non-zero Gaussian curvature in concrete, this method increases speed over typical concrete fabrication practices. Utilizing robotics to integrate a streamlined workflow from digital design to physical fabrication, Sub-Additive leverages digital workflows to produce structurally, materially, and spatially optimized building components while dramatically reducing waste material. Addressing digital form finding and optimization, material behaviors (both concrete and supportive aggregate), nozzle design and novel utilization of robotic fabrication, this paper introduces a series of key concepts for Sub-Additive Manufacturing, radically advancing concrete 3D printing at full scale.

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Acknowledgements

The Cornell Robotic Construction Laboratory (RCL) has received generous support from: AAP College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: The Department of Architecture at Cornell University, and HY-Flex Corporation. This work is also supported by the academic student researchers at the Cornell Robotic Construction Laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Christopher A. Battaglia, Martin Fields Miller & Sasa Zivkovic

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Battaglia
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  2. Martin Fields Miller
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  3. Sasa Zivkovic
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher A. Battaglia .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Art and Design, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Weimar, Germany

    Jan Willmann

  2. Department of Architecture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland

    Philippe Block

  3. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland

    Marco Hutter

  4. San Francisco, CA, USA

    Kendra Byrne

  5. Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Tim Schork

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Battaglia, C.A., Miller, M.F., Zivkovic, S. (2019). Sub-Additive 3D Printing of Optimized Double Curved Concrete Lattice Structures. In: Willmann, J., Block, P., Hutter, M., Byrne, K., Schork, T. (eds) Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art and Design 2018. ROBARCH 2018. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92294-2_19

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