The Collaborative Research Center TRR 277 "Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC) - The Challenge of Large Scale" aims to comprehensively examine additive manufacturing (AM) in interdisciplinary basic research as a new type of digital manufacturing technology in construction and thus the framework conditions for its introduction in the To create the construction industry. Additive manufacturing differs fundamentally from the conventional, predominantly manual manufacturing techniques in construction, which are designed for low wage costs at the expense of material efficiency. The aim of AMC is to use material only where it fulfills a function, thus paving the way for a resource-efficient use of materials with a high degree of design freedom in construction.
Funding body
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Project partner
AMC has the potential to develop into a key technology for the digitization of the construction industry. In order to fully exploit this potential, design, engineering and production must be fundamentally rethought and new digitally controlled methods developed. In particular, the merging of AM manufacturing technologies with Building Information Modeling (BIM) planning methods makes it possible to coordinate the manufacturing processes with design strategies and thus to produce light, free-form and resource-efficient structures. While additive manufacturing is already an alternative manufacturing technology in other branches of industry, there are still fundamental challenges to be solved with the introduction of AMC. First, the transfer of AM technologies to the large scale of the construction industry; second, the necessary variety of materials, which is determined by the complex functional requirements of a building; and third, the required high degree of customization and flexibility in the construction industry.
End-to-end digitization is of crucial importance for the successful introduction of additive manufacturing in construction. Project area C “Design and Construction” therefore researches the digital interfaces to the preliminary planning processes as well as the subsequent processes of construction from the start. The interaction between digital models and physical objects forms the methodical connection of the proposed TRR 277 and is the basis for the networking between project areas A, B and C (digital twin relationship). Networking across the project areas is implemented using large-format real AM components and their digital twins.
As a central theme of the research program, material developments and manufacturing processes are viewed as inseparable units. In the central project area A "Materials and Processes", various material-process combinations are therefore being researched. Project area B "Modeling and Control" ensures the robustness of the AM processes through assigned modeling and simulation projects as well as adaptive manufacturing strategies using online process control.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Kloft
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Institut für Tragwerksentwurf
Pockelsstraße 4
38106 Braunschweig
Tel.: 0531 391-3571
E-Mail: h.kloft(at)tu-braunschweig.de
ite.tu-braunschweig.de
