FIber Reinforcement for 3d earth printing
FIBER REINFORCEMENT FOR 3D EARTH PRINTING The new method to reinforce 3d earth printing The traditional earth architectures have many reinforcement ways such as mixing short fibers with earth, using wooden frames and so on.The mixing fiber with earth is the most common way to improve material strength.. The wooden frame with an earth wall is also a great way for reinforcing earth architecture. These methods are for reinforcing to tensile force because the earth wall is weak to horizontal forces. However, for 3d printing architecture, we need to find different ways for reinforcement because of different construction processes with traditional earth architecture. So this research is focused on how 3d earth printing can be reinforced for constructing.
The reason why the fiber reinforcement is needed First research goal is to find a more stable method during 3d earth printing and after construction. While the 3d earth architecture is being printed, the materials are wet. So it is unstable. 3d printing construction is additive manufacturing so it does not need a mold or scaffold. In wet conditions, printed structure is not safe. The reinforcement in wet conditions is necessary for construction safety and successful printing. After materials are dried, the architecture will be strong to compress force but weak to tensile force. Most earth architectures in the world are located in earthquake areas. Earthquakes are a horizontal force so earth architecture needs reinforcement for earthquake resistance. Second goal is achieving more design freedom. 3D printing has a limited angle of overhangs. Compared to plastic 3d printing, earth printing has less overhang. It is because the earth printing is very weak to tensile force when it is wet. If geometry has more overhang than 30 degrees, it would be bent and collapsed. The fiber reinforcement makes 3d earth printings possible to have more overhang degrees than 30. This means that 3d earth printing will have more various designs because of less limitation. Third one is for reducing material quantity. For stable and strong structure, 3d earth printing needs massive volume. Also It needs infills inside of walls. However, the fiber reinforcement makes the 3d earth printing structure possible to be thinner and more stable. This results in using less materials.
Searching the best performanced way to reinforce the printing by fiber This research can be divided as two parts. First one is to find fiber which is the best for 3d earth printing. Various fibers are tested in wet and dry condition. In dry condition, by crushing test the fiber which makes the earth stronger against tensile force is founded. In wet conditions, the mixture is found by a cigar test in which the wet mixtures are pushed by the same force on the edge of the table and checks distance of movement until they are fell down. Second part is to find the way how the fiber can be placed on the printing path while the structure is being printed. On a small scale, various geometry and methods are tested. At the end, the tool for placing fibers on the printing paths are designed and it is used in large scale printing.
2019 IaaC OTF - RESEARCH Team members
Jae Shin, Angelika.bocian
Faculty
Eduard Cabay , Alexandre Dubor
Assistant
Ashkan Foroughi