3D-printable strain-hardening cementitious composites using Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3)

3D concrete printing (3DCP) allows the ‘freeform’ construction of concrete components with complex geometries without the use of formwork. However, several technological challenges should be overcome before 3DCP can be fully utilized in the construction industry. Two of the main challenges include (a) difficulty in incorporating conventional steel reinforcement into the printing process and (b) using a high amount of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the mixture design of the currently available 3D printing materials. This project aims to tackle these challenges by developing a 3D-printable strain-hardening cementitious composite (3DP-SHCC) using Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3) technology.

Fibre-reinforced strain-hardening cementitious composites (SHCC) are a unique class of fibre-reinforced concrete exhibiting a strain-hardening behaviour in tension after first cracking, accompanied by multiple cracking up to relatively high strain levels. The high ductility of 3DP-SHCC will reduce the reliance on conventional steel bars.

To reduce the environmental footprints of 3DP-SHCC, it will be made of LC3, which is a blended cement manufactured by the combination of limestone, calcined clay, and OPC. LC3 has the equivalent mechanical performance to OPC and provides a reduction of carbon emissions by at least 40%.

The project start date will be 02 January 2023.

The potential applicant should have a Masters degree or Bachelors with Honours degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Engineering, or closely related field with a strong demonstrated interest/experience in concrete technology and construction materials development.