Sustainable 3D printing for civil construction: Valorization of bamboo leaf ashes in printed geopolymers

• Grant number: 22/02492-7
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal researcher: Joao Adriano Rossignolo
• Grantee: Maria Júlia Bassan de Moraes
• Supervisor abroad: Viktor Mechtcherine
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/11949-8 - Biocomposites for 3D printing: use of bamboo leaf in fiber-reinforced geopolymers and cementitious matrices, BP.DR

Abstract

The creation of a 3D product through a digital design, named 3D printing, is already a widespread technology in different areas, including civil construction, where its increasing application presents advantages such as minimal waste of materials, greater safety, production of geometrically more complex structures, among others. However, in addition to the search for new technologies to optimize the constructions of the future, there is also a concern with their sustainability, since civil construction is largely responsible for several environmental impacts, mainly from the production of Portland cement. Therefore, in line with a doctoral project (FAPESP Process No. 2019/11949-8), which is focused on the development of fiber-reinforced geopolymers having bamboo leaf ash as a precursor, this project aims to assess the viability of using eco-friendly geopolymers in 3D printing. It also proposes the evaluation of the influence of the bamboo leaf ash (BLA) in the pumpability, extrudability, buildability, mechanical properties, and bond between layers of different dosages. This stage will be conducted at the Technische Universität Dresden, with Prof. Dr. Viktor Mechtcherine, who is one of the references in this promising area, which has the potential to impact not only the scientific world but also civil construction as we know it, taking it to Industry 4.0. In addition, the institute for which he is responsible, the Institute of Construction Materials (IfB) codeveloped the CONPrint3D® concept, which stands for large-scale, on-site 3D-printing. Accordingly, this research internship abroad is one of the initiatives for the implementation of the study of 3D printing for civil construction at USP - FZEA. The student will have the opportunity to carry out tests on a 3D printer developed for application in civil construction, which will contribute to the development of research in this area not only at USP - FZEA, but also in Brazil, since there seems to be no research already completed in the country on Portland cement and geopolymers that used large printers, developed for application in civil construction. Through the research internship abroad, the student intends to learn and understand more about the upcoming and revolutionary 3D-printing in construction, as well as have Prof. Dr. Viktor Mechtcherine as consultant for results analysis and article writing.