Printability of stabilized solids for low cement consumption blocks

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2026.394225

Keywords:

3D printing, Additive manufacturing, Earth construction, Constructability

Abstract


This paper investigates the use of sandy silt in 3D printing by stabilizing it with Portland cement and chemical additives (metakaolin and limestone filler). The goal is to make the soil compatible with the 3D printing process and ensure pumpability. The experimental program began with a reference mixture of soil to cement in a 1:1 mass ratio to achieve a consistency suitable for the extrusion method. The study also examined the content of chemical additives, the water-to-dry material ratio, printing speed, and nozzle height conditions. The analysis included the reduction of cement in two mixtures, T15%C and T20%C, with mass proportions of 0.15:0.85:1 and 0.2:0.80:1. It was confirmed that soil-cement blocks could be successfully produced with compressive strengths of 3.1 MPa and 3.0 MPa for the T15%C and T20%C compositions, respectively, indicating a cement reduction of 87% and 82% compared to the reference mixture (REFT100).

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Rahal S, Kaci A, Skoudarli A. 2023. Evaluation of mechanical anisotropy induced by 3D printing process for earth-based materials. Mater. Today: Proc. S2214785323040622.

United Nations Environment Programme. 2024. Global status report for buildings and construction: beyond foundations: Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector. Accessed: Apr. 7, 2024. [Online].

Benachio GLF, Freitas MDCD, Tavares SF. 2020. Circular economy in the construction industry: A systematic literature review. J. Clean. Prod. 260:121046.

Bajpayee A, Farahbakhsh M, Zakira U, Pandey A, Ennab LA, Rybkowski Z, Dixit MK, Schwab PA, Kalantar N, Birgisson B, Banerjee S. 2020. In situ resource utilization and reconfiguration of soils into construction materials for the additive manufacturing of buildings. Front. Mater. 7:52.

Ferretti E, Moretti M, Chiusoli A, Naldoni L, De Fabritiis, F, Visonà M. 2022. Mechanical properties of a 3D-printed wall segment made with an earthen mixture. Materials. 15(2):438.

Faleschini F, Trento D, Masoomi M, Pellegrino C, Zanini MA. 2023. Sustainable mixes for 3D printing of earth-based constructions. Constr. Build. Mater. 398:132496.

Azeredo G, Morel JC, Lamarque CH. 2008. Applicability of rheometers to characterizing earth mortar behavior. Part I: experimental device and validation. Mater. Struct. 41:1465–1472.

Reyes AV, Gomaa M, Chatzivasileiadi A, Jabi W, Wardhana NM. 2018. Computing Craft - Early stage development of a robotically-supported 3D printing system for cob structures. In: 36th annual Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe). 1:791-800.

Perrot A, Rangeard D, Courteille E. 2018. 3D printing of earth-based materials: Processing aspects. Constr. Build. Mater. 172:670–676.

Gomaa M, Jabi W, Reyes AV, Soebarto V. 2021. 3D printing system for earth-based construction: Case study of cob. Autom. Constr. 124:103577.

Dias LS, Anjos MAS, Barbosa MS, Bezerra UT. 2024. Evaluation of mix design parameters based on basic constitutive relationships for 3DCP printing. Cerâmica. 70:eZXBR6170.

Cardoso FA, John VM, Pileggi RG, Banfill PFG. 2014. Characterisation of rendering mortars by squeeze-flow and rotational rheometry. Cem. Concr. Res. 57:79–87.

Cardoso FA, John VM, Pileggi RG. 2009. Rheological behavior of mortars under different squeezing rates. Cem. Concr. Res. 39(9):748–753.

Gomaa M, Jabi W, Soebarto V, Xie YM. 2022. Digital manufacturing for earth construction: A critical review. J. Clean. Prod. 338:130630.

Chang, Y-C, Fiore D, Sevostianov F, Stirum G, Refalian G, Li Q, Riaz SR, Ye D. 2024. Digital Adobe. Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2024. [Online]. Retrieved from: https://iaac.net/project/digital-adobe

D’Haese R, Dubois V, Carpentier O, Chartier T, Chafei S, Wirquin E. 2018. Composite for additive manufacturing including flax by products and quarry fines. 2nd. Eur. Mag. Conf. BioComp. https://hal.science/hal-03263977

D’Haese, R, Carpentier O, Dubois V, Chafei, S, Wirquin E. 2022. 3D-printable materials made with industrial by-products: Formulation, fresh and hardened properties. Sustainability. 14(21):14236.

Soda PRK, Dwivedi A, M CS, Gupta S. 2024. Development of 3D printable stabilized earth-based construction materials using excavated soil: Evaluation of fresh and hardened properties. Sci. Total. Environ. 924:171654.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2016. ABNT NBR 7181: Solo - Análise granulométrica. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Araújo RA, 2022. Avaliação de misturas cimentícias para impressão 3D com desempenho térmico otimizado. Tese (Doutorado em Ciência e Engenharia de Materiais) - Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Terra. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. Natal – RN.

Diniz HAA, Martinelli AE, Cabral KC, Ferreira RLDS, Da Silva IFD. 2023. Synergistic effects of the use of metakaolin, sand and water on the properties of cementitious composites for 3D printing. Constr. Build. Mater. 366:130277.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2009. ABNT NBR NM 52: Agregado miúdo – Determinação da massa específica e massa específica aparente. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2009. ABNT NBR NM 53: Agregado graúdo – Determinação da massa específica, massa específica aparente e absorção de água. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2006. ABNT NBR NM 45: Agregados - Determinação da massa unitária e do volume de vazios. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2016. ABNT NBR 13276: Argamassa para assentamento e revestimento de paredes e tetos – Determinação do índice de consistência. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

International Organization for Standardization. 2023. ISO/ASTM FDIS 52939: Additive manufacturing for construction — Qualification principles — Structural and infrastructure elements. International Organization for Standardization.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2012. ABNT NBR 8492: Tijolo de solo-cimento – Análise dimensional, determinação da resistência à compressão e da absorção de água - Método de ensaio. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Nunes GM, Anjos MAS, Lins ABSM, Negreiros AMS, Pessoa LR. 2023. Evaluation of the mechanical behaviour of representative volumetric elements of 3DCP masonry mixtures with partial replacement of cement by limestone filler and metakaolin. J. Build. Eng. 78:107650.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2005. ABNT NBR 13279: Argamassa para assentamento e revestimento de paredes e tetos - Determinação da resistência à tração na flexão e à compressão. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas. 2009. ABNT NBR 9778: Argamassa e concreto endurecidos - Determinação da absorção de água, índice de vazios e massa específica. ABNT, Rio de Janeiro.

Lahbabi S, Bouferra R, Saadi L, Khalil A. 2024. Study of the physicochemical, mineralogical, and geotechnical properties of clayey soils to improve the durability of eco-construction materials in the rural region. Constr. Build. Mater. 411:134304.

Silva G, Ñañez, R, Zavaleta D, Burgos V, Kim S, Ruiz G, Pando MA, Aguilar R, Nakamatsu J. 2022. Eco-friendly additive construction: Analysis of the printability of earthen-based matrices stabilized with potato starch gel and sisal fibers. Constr. Build. Mater. 347:128556.

Davey BG, Russell JD, Wilson MJ. 1975. Iron oxide and clay minerals and their relation to colours of red and yellow podzolic soils near Sydney, Australia. Geoderma. 14(2):125–138.

Muñoz PV, Morales MPO, Letelier VG, Mendívil MAG. 2016. Fired clay bricks made by adding wastes: Assessment of the impact on physical, mechanical and thermal properties. Constr. Build. Mater. 125:241–252.

Boukili GE, Lechheb M, Ouakarrouch M, Dekayir A, Kifani-Sahban F, Khaldoun A. 2021. Mineralogical, physico-chemical and technological characterization of clay from Bensmim (Morocco): Suitability for building application. Constr. Build. Mater. 280:122300.

Gol F, Saritas ZG, Cıbuk S, Ture C, Kacar E, Yilmaz A, Arslan M, Sen F. 2022. Coloring effect of iron oxide content on ceramic glazes and their comparison with the similar waste containing materials. Ceram. Int. 48(2):2241–2249.

Tay YWD, Qian Y, Tan MJ. 2019. Printability region for 3D concrete printing using slump and slump flow test. Compos. Part B Eng. 174:106968.

Ma G, Li Z, Wang L. 2018. Printable properties of cementitious material containing copper tailings for extrusion based 3D printing. Constr. Build. Mater. 162:613–627.

Shah V, Parashar A, Mishra G, Medepalli S, Krishnan S, Bishnoi S. 2020. Influence of cement replacement by limestone calcined clay pozzolan on the engineering properties of mortar and concrete. Adv. Cem. Res. 32(3):101–111.

Sabino TDDMM, Nunes US, Marinho GS, Freitas JCDO, Martinelli AE, Da Nóbrega ACV. 2024. Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) coating mortars as an energy-efficient option for construction. Constr. Build. Mater. 437:136954.

Avet F, Sofia L, Scrivener K. 2019. Concrete performance of limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) compared with conventional cements. Adv. Civ. Eng. Mater. 8(3):275–286.

Araújo RA, Martinelli AE, Cabral KC, Dantas AFOA, Silva IFD, Xavier AAC, Santos AL. 2022. Thermal performance of cement-leca composites for 3D printing. Constr. Build. Mater. 349:128771.

Downloads

Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Lima, F. M. ., dos Anjos, M. A. S. ., Barros, I. M. S. ., & Nunes, U. S. . (2026). Printability of stabilized solids for low cement consumption blocks. Materiales De Construcción, 76(361), e402. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2026.394225

Issue

Section

Research Articles