Robotic AeroCrete A novel robotic spraying and surface treatment technology for the production of slender reinforced concrete elements

Nizar Taha, Alexander Nikolas Walzer, Jetana Ruangjun, Theophil Bürgin, Kathrin Dörfler, Ena Lloret-Fritschi, Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

This research paper presents a novel method for robotic spraying of glass-fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC) on a permeable reinforcement mesh. In this process, the mesh acts as a functional formwork during the concrete spraying process and as reinforcement once the concrete is cured, with the goal of producing slender reinforced concrete elements efficiently. The proof of concept presented in this paper takes inspiration from ``Ferrocement'' technique, developed in the 1940s by Pier Luigi Nervi (Greco, 1994) and shows how robotic spraying has the potential of producing such slender and bespoke reinforced concrete elements while also having the potential of reducing manual labour, waste and excess material. The system is coined with the name ``Robotic AeroCrete'' (or RAC) in reference to the use of an industrial robotic setup and the pneumatic projection of concrete.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationArchitecture in the Age of the 4th Industrial Revolutio
EditorsJosé Pedro Sousa, Gonçalo Castro Henriques, João Pedro Xavier
PublisherEducation and research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe
Pages245-254
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)9789491207198
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event37th Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe and 23rd Conference of the Iberoamerican Society Digital Graphics, eCAADe SIGraDi 2019 - Porto, Portugal
Duration: 11 Sep 201913 Sep 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe
Volume3
ISSN (Print)2684-1843

Conference

Conference37th Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe and 23rd Conference of the Iberoamerican Society Digital Graphics, eCAADe SIGraDi 2019
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityPorto
Period11/09/1913/09/19

Keywords

  • Digital Fabrication
  • Ferrocement
  • Robotic Fabrication
  • Shotcrete

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