DuRe-Transp Workshop on Rheology and 3D Printing of Concrete
DuRe-Transp’s first Workshop on Rheology and 3D Printing of Concrete took place in Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in Rolla, Missouri, on August 5-7, 2024. The event, co-sponsored by NSF’s AccelNet program, attracted 55 participants and emphasized on rheology-based investigations of cement-based materials aiming at improving the performance of high-performance 3D-printed concrete.
DuRe-Transp’s Associate Director and Vice Chancellor of Missouri S&T Kamal Khayat and Purdue University’s Jan Olek chaired the workshop and presented key-note lectures on the use of rheology to quantitatively analyze the flow behavior of construction materials, offering insights beyond traditional workability methods. Arizona’s State University and NSF’s AccelNet PI Narayanan Neithalath discussed the role of rheology in the early-age hydration of 3D-printed concrete, while Youngblood from Purdue University provided foundational knowledge on rheology and modeling techniques.
The workshop was a first-of-its-kind opportunity for faculty, students and engineers from several disciplines to learn about novel testing methods for evaluating 3D-printed concrete performance and advancements in bioinspired material design for 3D printing. The workshop also featured a poster session showcasing related research projects; laboratory demonstrations of 3D printing testing methods; and a tour of Missouri S&T’s Clayco Advanced Construction and Materials Laboratory. Participants had the opportunity to engage in breakout sessions, discussing the opportunities and challenges in advancing rheology and 3D printing technologies, and brainstorming for future development. Industrial perspectives were shared by Gabriel Falzone, COO of Sperra, and Philip Lund-Nielsen, co-founder and Head of Americas at COBOD.
The event drew participants from a range of higher education institutions and agencies, including The University of Texas at Arlington, Arizona State University, Clemson University, Drexel University, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Louisiana State University, Northwestern University, Oklahoma State University, Purdue University, Texas A&M University, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, University of Florida, The University of Mississippi, University of Notre Dame, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ICON Technology and Poland’s West Pomeranian University of Technology.
