Rethinking Residential Construction

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Rethinking Residential Construction

Heminger, Caris

URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2435

Date: 2023-04-25

Abstract:

Three-dimensional construction printing is a form of additive construction that uses 3D printing technologies as a core method to fabricate buildings, construction components, and civil infrastructure. This new process allows for less waste, faster building times, higher productivity, lower need for labor, reduced costs, and newer shapes and designs than the traditional concrete framework. Furthermore, utilizing 3D printing technology can result in a reduction of carbon emissions by saving on transportation and construction equipment. While there are many advantages to using this type of building construction, it is a relatively new process that has some challenges to overcome. 3D concrete printing has a high initial investment cost, requires technical expertise, faces building code hurdles, has limited printing size, and may encounter difficulty with environmental factors when constructed outside. The intent of this thesis is to study how implementing 3D printing in residential construction in Southeast Michigan is a viable construction method in comparison to the traditional wood frame construction that is currently being used. The environmental impacts of each building method throughout the building envelope life cycle was analyzed. Affordability of materials and construction of a new build for each type of construction method within the region was compared. Additionally, the performance of the envelopes in the high humidity, large temperature ranges, prevailing winds, and precipitation levels of Southeast Michigan was examined. Investigating the disruptors of this new technology being implemented in the future was analyzed by considering future climate change and shifts in the labor force. A visual comparison was created from this research showing how 3D printing and wood frame construction varied for the participants involved through the home’s life cycle. The findings of this research show that 3D printed construction has the potential to be more environmentally responsible than traditional wood frame construction. Additionally, it has similar affordability and envelope performance in the region of Southeast Michigan. Moving forward, implementing this construction method can mitigate climate change and provide a necessary shift in the labor force.

Description:

3D printing technology has been utilized in many fields and progressed to better serve humans. It has been used in the medical field to make organs tailor made for patients, create custom prosthetics, and produce on-demand medical samples. This technology has also been used in the Engineering field to build unmanned aircrafts, create general aviation parts, used in various military applications, build cars, and produce high-end electronics (Drew Turney, et al). In the architecture field, however, it has primarily been limited to producing models. While there has been significant growth in its architectural applications over the past decade, 3D printing still faces pushback from critics. With more research, testing, and making, 3D printing can be driven further and become an asset to the construction industry. Applying 3D printing in building construction could solve issues the industry faces. The building sector is consistently faced with tight budgets and deadlines. In recent years there have been severe labor shortages and major supply chain delays (“3D Concrete Printing – the Ultimate Guide”). With the unexpected setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, these problems only became more conglomerated. Introducing robotics in construction could help alleviate some of these issues. Often times homes are built with unnecessary amounts of material waste in a repeatable cookie cutter fashion that is not considerate of the site climate or context. Additionally, these homes are not strategized for a long-term life cycle. They typically consume more energy than necessary, which accumulates avoidable costs and negative impacts on the environment. Furthermore, these houses are typically not constructed with durable finishes which in turn results in entire homes being thrown out and replaced by the same poor construction. As the potential for 3D printed construction is being uncovered, research on its adaptability to different regions needs and climate is very relevant. The innovative technique of this relatively new technology can help resolve the specific construction issues an area may face. Whether it be for affordable housing, sufficient housing, or quick disaster relief, learning to optimize 3D printing for a specific region will solidify this construction method as a viable option to traditional forms of building. 3D construction printing is a form of additive construction that uses 3D printing technologies and concrete as a core method to fabricate buildings and construction components. This thesis investigates the viability of implementing 3D printing as a construction method by creating a framework that measures the environmental impact, affordability, and performance of a 3D printed envelope in comparison to the traditional construction used in the region. This framework studies 3D printing as a viable construction method for residential homes in Southeast Michigan by analyzing its CO2 emissions during the building envelope life cycle, its affordability of labor and materials in the area, and the energy performance of its wall envelope in the climate compared to the wood frame construction that is typically used in this region. Additionally, this thesis will investigate the disruptors of the new technology being implemented by considering future climate change and shifts in the labor force. Finally, a narrative of a 3D printed home compared to a traditionally constructed home is followed and highlights the design process, environmental impacts, and users experience of the home’s life cycle.

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