Thermal and Sound Insulation of Large-Scale 3D Extrusion Printing Wall Panel

Abstract

A 3D printing technology for construction has been developed for some decades. This technology presents a great potential applying into existing construction and is believe to encourage a sustainable construction. This is because of its perceptible benefits of free-form fabrication without formwork, enhanced product quality, minimized waste produced, and reduced labor workforce. The technology also presents consequential automated advancements and is poised to be a disruptive force in the evolving global construction industry. Presently, it is found that many cementitious materials have been developed to have the fresh characteristics suitably for a large-scale extrusion 3D printer. Previous research reported that a large-scale 3D-printed wall panel with the size larger than 1-m by 1-m exhibited better thermal and sound insulating performance characteristics, when compared to a traditional concrete wall panel. These better performance characteristics were indicated when using a high-strength 3D extrusion printing wall panels with the 28-day compressive strength value greater than 50 MPa. The large-scale 3D extrusion printing wall panels having normal 28-day compressive strengths of 25 MPa and 35 MPa should be assessed. This work aims to present results on investigating its thermal and sound insulating performance of the 3D extrusion printing wall panels with mortar having different compressive strengths. Three mortar types having various 28-day compressive strengths are developed and printed into the wall panel with different surface textures using the large-scale 3D extrusion printer. The printed wall panels are investigated on their benefits for thermal and sound insulating performance. In additional, other hardened performance characteristics of mortars developed herein such as density, porosity, flexural strength, drying shrinkage, and thermal conductivity of the mortar materials are evaluated.