Advances and current trends on the use of 3D printed concrete for building fabrication

Recently 3D-printed concrete has emerged as an innovative material for the manufacture of low-cost buildings worldwide. The 3D printed concrete technique allows the manufacture of buildings with substantial savings in cost and construction time both up to 70% compared to traditional construction systems. However, there are some unknowns about the use of 3D printed concrete and its behavior under service loads, these unknowns are mainly associated with the manufacturing process, mix design, rheology and fresh empirical properties, its mechanical properties, durability properties, use of reinforcing steel, current applications, among others. When 3D printed concrete is intended to be implemented for building purposes, each of these properties needs to be addressed for optimal functionality. This article presents a preliminary state of the art that accounts for the current manufacturing processes and performance of 3D printed concrete for the manufacture of low-cost buildings. Based on the identified developments, current benefits and limitations of the 3D printed concrete technique are established, and conclusions and recommendations are provided regarding its manufacture and implementation for further performance studies.