A novel Concrete Printing process has been developed, inspired and informed by advances in 3D printing, which has the potential to produce highly customised building components. Whilst still in their infancy, these technologies could create a new era of architecture that is better adapted to the environment and integrated with engineering function. This paper describes the development of a viable concrete printing process with a practical example in designing and manufacturing a concrete component (called Wonder Bench) that includes service voids and reinforcement. The challenges met and those still to be overcome particularly in the evaluation of the manufacturing tolerances of prints are also discussed.
Current planning practice takes little account of the interdisciplinary, iterative nature of the building design process. This leads to a compromised design process containing inevitable cycles of rework together with associated time and cost penalties in both design and construction. The Analytical Design Planning Technique (ADePT) is a planning methodology which helps to overcome these difficulties. This paper describes the development of a modelling notation and model of the detailed building design process, which forms the first stage of ADePT.
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This paper explores the adaptability of buildings in Japan from the perspective of three distinct practice typologies: large general contractors, large architectural design firms, and small design ateliers. The paper illustrates the cultivation of adaptability in Japan revealing a maturing of concepts into current innovations, trends, priorities, and obstacles in relation to adaptability in design. The paper contextualizes the situation by reviewing the evolution of residential development in support of building adaptability, and the ways in which these policies and concepts have shaped practice and transcended residential design. This evolution is then explored through non-residential case studies undertaken by the three practice types, and supported through a review of critical themes emerging from the interviews. The importance of particular physical characteristics are examined including storey height, location of services, planning modules and structural spacing/spans. The interviews expose the critical relationship between adaptability and different social variables - the state of the market, the role of planning regulations and other legal frameworks; as well as, the misconceptions and variations in the perceptions on the role and meaning adaptability has in practice. The paper is concluded by revealing the lessons learnt, including the unfolding of dependencies outside the ‘black box’ of adaptability (e.g. practice culture, material and, stakeholder mindsets) and the requirement of effective communication of concepts to allow an informed conversation between professionals and with clients and users. Like many other philosophical design concepts in complex processes, adaptability benefits from a mutual understanding, good relationships, communication, integration, and shared goals amongst team members.
Cement production is estimated to be responsible for 5-8% of global total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Geopolymer concrete (GC) is claimed to release up to 45% less CO2 for a comparable concrete, but is more difficult to manufacture. This study investigated the effect of factors other than mix design on the slump and strength development of GC produced from low-calcium fly ash (FA) and up to 50% ground granulated blastfurnace slag (GGBS) replacement; these were: curing methods and temperatures (at 10, 20 and 75 o C); FA fineness; superplasticiser type; water content; and GGBS/FA ratio. Methods are also presented for the volume-to-mass conversion of sodium hydroxide at a specific molarity and ambient temperature, and an effective combination of wax-based mixtures as mould agents to overcome the inherent manufacturing mould release difficulties. Steam-curing improved the compressive strength of the FA-based GC over oven drying by up to 20%, as did increasing the FA fineness (although this became negligible with 50% GGBS replacement). Both naphthalene and polycarboxylate superplasticizers improved the slump of GC (from 110 to 210 mm) without significantly reducing the compressive strength (< 5 MPa). Water content of GC had a great 2 effect on the slump, but less so on the compressive strength. Increasing the GGBS content gradually decreased the slump but rapidly increased the strength, regardless of the curing temperatures of 20 or o C. The GC with the minimum of 20% GGBS replacement achieved 33 MPa after 28 days curing at 10 o C. Air-dry curing provided a greater strength development of FA-based GC than water curing, though the opposite was observed for the 50/50 GGBS/FA GC. Consideration of these factors can significantly ease the manufacture of GC, enhancing its potential application in real structures, and consequently helping reduce global (CO2) emissions.
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