UK’s Largest 3D Printed Concrete Structure Installed
The UK’s largest printed concrete structure has been installed in Scotland, the New Civil Engineer reports. The printed staircase will provide access to the Sighthill Bridge, a new cycle and pedestrian bridge across the M8 in Glasgow, which will create a sustainable transport link to the city centre.
Compared to traditional methods, 3D concrete printing reduces waste by 40%, which means fewer harmful carbon emissions and lower costs. The concrete steps were printed in the Netherlands, before being shipped to Scotland. They will be coated in granite, and are just as strong and durable as poured concrete structures.
3D printing off-site also eliminates any interruptions caused by the weather, and allows for precise shaping and highly controlled quality and safety standards. 3D printing works by using a computer program to layer materials into three-dimensional shapes. Although the concept was invented in the 1980s, it is only just coming into wider usage.
The method is particularly advantageous for complex geometric shapes, and it is now being applied across plastics manufacturing, product design, metalworking, medical applications, toolmaking, and electronics, as well as in the construction industry.
Construction 3D printing allows for a more accurate construction process, which are less wasteful, and reduce labour costs. The process begins with a 3D digital model of the item, which is then ‘read’ by the printer to build up layers of the chosen medium, such as concrete.
The concrete mix is driven through the printer nozzle via a pump, and layers of no more than 5mm are gradually built up, which can be overlaid by a wire mesh to add strength. Once the printing process is finished, the concrete dries out and solidifies, and the layers fuse together.
The completed printed structure can be moved from the printing bed within 24 hours, and the concrete will usually then take up to 28 days to reach full strength.
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