Digital Construction – Conference with visionaries for the construction of the future
Instead of brick on brick built by hand, layer by layer 3D printed with a robot. This is what the future of building could look like. The first buildings in Germany are already standing, and the largest printed building in Europe was recently completed in Heidelberg. At the Technical University of Braunschweig and the Technical University of Munich, scientists of TRR 277 AMC are researching new 3D printing processes to make the construction of the future more resource-efficient, lower-emission and more economical. The AMC had now presented its research results. The keynote speaker was Leibniz Prize winner Professor Achim Menges, spokesperson for the IntCDC Cluster of Excellence (Digital Technologies for Design and Construction of the Future) at the University of Stuttgart.
The research of the Collaborative Research Centre “Additive Manufacturing in Construction” of TU Braunschweig and TU Munich focuses on the digitalisation of construction – with the aim of combining the requirements of economy and ecology through 3D printing technologies. With the help of digital processes, building materials can be used more efficiently and significantly less of them can be consumed. Through digitally controlled planning and layering, the material is applied only where it is structurally needed, without the need for moulds or other aids. The result is shape-optimised components that significantly reduce resource consumption and CO2 emissions. Additive manufacturing also offers new design freedom for architecture.
Paradigm shift in the construction industry
“Our research at the AMC represents a paradigm shift in the construction industry, where we can use 3D printing technologies to push the boundaries of environmentally friendly and economical construction,” emphasises Professor Harald Kloft, spokesperson for the Collaborative Research Centre. And Professor Kathrin Dörfler, co-spokesperson from TU Munich, adds: “We believe that additive manufacturing technology is not only changing the way we build, but is also in line with the sustainable and social aspirations of the modern construction industry. This conference is a platform to learn, collaborate and drive change.”
The conference in the Audimax of the TU Braunschweig gave an overview of all research areas of the AMC: materials and processes, computer-aided modelling and control, design and construction.
Three scientists who are among the visionaries of digital building fabrication were won for the keynotes: Dr Ana Anton and Professor Benjamin Dillenburger from ETH Zurich, as well as Professor Achim Menges, spokesperson for the IntCDC cluster of excellence at the University of Stuttgart and winner of the Leibniz Prize 2023 for his outstanding work in architecture.
Professor Helga Blocksdorf and Professor Norman Hack (both TU Braunschweig) highlighted the teaching on 3D printing technologies and how architecture can use them for completely new design possibilities in their lecture “From Additive Manufacturing to Architecture”. Afterwards, several 3D-printed building objects, so-called collaborative demonstrators, were presented.
3D concrete printer lab tour
In addition to the discussions, participants had the opportunity to visit demonstrators on a 1:1 scale and thus experience first-hand the advances made possible by 3D printing technology.
Finally, the AMC conference left the presentation rooms in the Audimax and went on a Lab Tour: Participants were able to visit the “Digital Building Site”, the “Digital Building Fabrication Laboratory” (the large 3D concrete printer) and the mobile robot at the Institute for Building Materials, Solid Construction and Fire Protection (iBMB) at TU Braunschweig.
Braunschweig, 12th October 2023
About TRR 277 AMC:
The Collaborative Research Center TRR 277 Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC) is dedicated to advancing research in the field of construction, with a focus on leveraging 3D printing technology to revolutionize sustainable and energy-efficient building practices. Through innovation and collaboration, the center aims to usher in a new era for the construction industry. In the interdisciplinary, cross-location and dfg-funded research project, the two universities TU Braunschweig and TU Munich, pursue the novel manufacturing approach for the construction industry. Additive manufacturing can develop into a key technology for the digitalization of the construction industry. Complex research questions on materials, process engineering, control, modeling, design and construction are being investigated holistically by scientists from the fields of civil and mechanical engineering.
Contact:
Meike Bährens M.A.
PR & Communication Coordinator
Tel.: +49 531 391-3579 | Mobil: +49 171 389 5358
E-Mail: m.baehrens@tu-braunschweig.de | www.amc-trr277.de
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