Embodied CO2 Reduction Effects of Free-Form Concrete Panel Production Using Rod-Type Molds with 3D Plastering Technique

Abstract

When using concrete to produce exterior finishing panels of free-form building structures, different panel shapes make it difficult to reuse the forms. This results in increased formwork cost as well as a significant amount of embodied CO2 (ECO2) generation. Through years of research, we have developed a free-form panel (FCP) production technique engaging the 3D plastering technique (3DPT) without using conventional plywood forms. When 3DPT becomes available for free-form building projects, a great deal of ECO2 reduction effects is expected in addition to reduced time and cost in FCP production. The purpose of this study is to prove this by analyzing ECO2 reduction effects achieved through sustainable FCP production using 3DPT. The study involved project case selection, calculation of resources consumed for conventional plywood forms, and analysis of the reduction effects. As a result, it was demonstrated from the case project that 1196 tons of CO2 were reduced using 3DPT, accounting for approximately 99% of the amount produced from conventional plywood forms (CPF). The study findings will be used as a basic reference for sustainable production of FCPs ensuring speed and precision in production as well as innovative ECO2 reduction effects.