Digital Twin Applications in 3D Concrete Printing

Abstract

The benefits of 3D concrete printing (3DCP) include reducing construction time and costs, providing design freedom, and being environmentally friendly. This technology is expected to be effective in addressing the global house shortage. This review highlights the main 3DCP applications and four critical challenges. It is proposed to combine 3D concrete printing with Digital Twin (DT) technology to meet the challenges the 3DCP faces and improve quality and sustainability. This paper provides a critical review of research into the application of DT technology in 3DCP, categorize the applications and directions proposed according to different lifecycles, and explore the possibility of incorporating them into existing 3DCP systems. A comprehensive roadmap was proposed to detail how DT can be used at different lifecycle stages to optimize and address the four main challenges of 3DCP, providing directions and ideas for further research.

Identifying strategic opportunities through the development of a roadmap for additive manufacturing: The example of Portugal

“…In addition, the role of roadmaps has also been studied and proposed as effective in dealing with the uncertainty and complexity that technology-based start-ups face [ 17 ]. Thus, many papers have been published that propose a roadmap for additive manufacturing, with a very diverse scope, ranging from those directed at teaching AM [ 76 ], AM value chain [ 77 ], impact of AM on supply chains [ 78 ], materials [ [79] , [80] , [81] , [82] , [83] ], devices [ [84] , [85] , [86] ], industry/sector [ [87] , [88] , [89] , [90] , [91] ] to more general ones [ 19 , 52 ].…”

“…The piezoelectric nanogenerator, a mechanical energy harvesting device used in portable power supplies and self-powered sensor systems [ 84 ], 3D-printed nanogenerators for energy harvesting [ 86 ], and 3D printed devices for energy transition [ 85 ] are some of these examples. In terms of industry/sectors, there are also several where roadmaps for AM have been established, such as construction [ [87] , [88] , [89] ], textile industry [ 90 ], aerospace industry [ 91 ], and healthcare [ 17 ].…”

“…The methodologies used in the studies are mostly literature review [ 79 , 80 , 84 , 88 , 89 ]. In addition, questionnaires [ 76 , 87 ], and experimental methods [ 81 , 83 , 92 ] were also used.…”

Environmentally Friendly Smart Construction—Review of Recent Developments and Opportunities

“…For instance, short-fibre reinforcement of the printing mixtures [149], fibre reinforced cementitious composites [150,151], on-site assembly of off-site-printed concrete elements with a steel reinforcement system [152], incorporation of steel reinforcement bars [153], cables [154] and vertical mesh [155] into the structure during the printing process and integration of continuous lines of carbon fibres into the deposition of concrete layers [155] are among the most recent developments. This also includes the Digital Twin technology consisting of a virtual twin representation of the structure that would assist the 3D printing, planning and further monitoring of the structural performance [156].…”

Leading-Edge Technologies for Architectural Design: A Comprehensive Review

“…This not only elevates the design process but also facilitates early detection of potential issues or areas for improvement. Digital twins aid in constructing detailed 3D models, enabling architects to explore diverse design possibilities and iterate rapidly (Han et al, 2020;Liu et al, 202;Wang et al, 2023;DebRoy et al, 2017). Such technology fosters real-time collaboration among architects, engineers, and stakeholders, fostering creativity, efficient problem-solving, and data-informed decision-making in the design phase (DebRoyet al, 2017;Rane, 2023r;Rane, 2023s;Rane and Attarde, 2016;Rane, 2016;Rane et al, 2017).…”