Following several climate disasters in Iowa, investment in additive manufacturing has increased to evaluate whether 3D-printed concrete can be a feasible and effective method for sustainable, resilient, and affordable rural construction. With concrete being the world's most widely used construction material, there is a demand for solutions that mitigate the economic and environmental impact of concrete. In Iowa, opportunities exist to develop local and low-carbon 3D-printed concrete material alternatives with waste materials. Primary materials investigated include corn stover biochar and wind turbine powder. The research looks to test these materials through brickmaking to optimize mix formulations and determine if these aggregates can be scaled for 3D-printed concrete applications. This work is being led by Shelby Doyle and conducted by the Department of Architecture in the ISU CCL, providing access to digital fabrication and robotics equipment to support this research.
