GUWAHATI: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have found that 3D printed concrete walls with lattice designs can help improve the thermal performance of buildings.
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According to a press release from the institute on Thursday, April 24, the study looked at how the shape and design of lattice-patterned walls affect the way heat moves through buildings.
3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is a new construction method where machines build walls by adding concrete layer by layer from a digital design. This method does not need moulds like traditional construction and can reduce waste, time, and labour costs. One of its biggest benefits is that it allows new wall shapes like lattice structures, which have small gaps or spaces built into them.
The IIT Guwahati team, in its study, tested how these lattice wall designs affect heat flow. They used both lab tests and computer models to see how different shapes and patterns of the wall could help keep buildings cooler or warmer, depending on the climate.
The results showed that 3D printed concrete lattice walls can help regulate indoor temperatures better than traditional solid walls. This could lower the need for air conditioning or heating, saving energy in the long run.
The study also supports the use of new building technologies that are good for the environment, as the research team believes their work can help design homes and buildings that are better suited to India’s various climate zones.
The study was led by Dr. Biranchi Panda from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and was published in the journal Progress in Additive Manufacturing.
