Clay is of great interest as a 3D printing material thanks to its ease of use, recyclability and reusability. This paper analyses the technical aspects of the whole printing process. The behaviour of 3D printing clay is studied with respect to the environment and its specific application as a temporary or definitive formwork system for cement parts. The study addresses the performance of clay and the loss of its properties and characteristics according to the type of protection, whether it is in direct contact with air or cement, or protected with plastics, metal sheets, or combinations of both. A 3D printing system with various printers and 3D models has been considered, observing a direct relationship between the prototype shape, extrusion process and resulting material. The most important variables in 3D printing have been considered: layer height, line thickness, base definition, total model height, overhang angles, overlap between layers, etc. The main technical aspects have been analysed such as raw material properties, kneading, process control, post-treatments and material hardening. As a natural material, clay can be reused indefinitely under certain conditions to be part of a circular economy with low energy consumption and minimal resources. It is concluded that the option of using ceramics in 3D printing for very diverse uses in the architecture, engineering & construction (AEC) sector is very promising due to their ease of implementation, recycling capability and suitability to different environments.

The construction industry has embraced digitisation and industrialisation in response to the need to increase its productivity, optimise material consumption and improve workmanship. Additive manufacturing (AM), more widely known as 3D printing, has driven substantial progress in these respects in other industries, and a number of national and international projects have helped to introduce the technique to the construction industry. As with other innovative processes not covered by uniform standards, appropriate assessments and testing methodologies to control the quality of the 3D-printed end products, while not obligatory, are advisable. This article shows that regulation is not an obstacle to the use of an innovative product, such as 3D printing, by proposing quality-control tests and an assessment methodology, in the understanding that standardisation ensures the viability of a technology. The information, including the methods and results, is based on the authors’ experiences in the development of three research projects pertaining to 3D printing. This paper also discusses whether the performance of the materials used in 3D printing could be superior to traditional ones.

The industrialized model of construction is gaining more and more prominence in the specialized literature and in discussion forums wherein the different economic, social, and environmental advantages it offers compared with the traditional model are shown. The greater control over all processes results in savings in materials, less waste, less traveling to the construction site, and optimized energy consumption. Furthermore, this construction model often involves a higher quality finish and complex construction details of better quality. All these aspects make industrialized construction an interesting model from the perspective of sustainability. This study aims to investigate the relationship between industrialized construction and sustainability, and the benefits associated with it. A systematic review of the literature was performed based on research published between 2000 and 2022. The methodology followed consisted of searching for different combinations of keywords. Then, a quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted to see the total number of publications and study aspects, such as their temporal and geographical evolution, and the subject areas they dealt with. After this analysis, our discussion and conclusions revealed some of the gaps existing in the research studies conducted in order to propose possible lines of research for the future.

One of the major challenges facing 3D printing for construction is the technological suitability, ‘printability’, of the materials used. These cement-based materials differ from those used in other sectors, which has a series of conditioning factors that are the object of the present analysis. This article first reviews the definition of the term ‘printability’ and its constituent stages. Those stages condition the requirements to be met by cement-based materials, whether designed for other uses or developed ad hoc, and therefore the tests applicable to determine their aptitude for use in additive manufacturing for construction. That is followed by a review of the standardised tests presently in place for mortars and concretes that can be used to verify a material’s compliance with such requirements. The paper concludes with a recommendation on the advisability of developing a standard test or suite of tests to ascertain printability.

The architectural and construction sectors are experiencing a transformative shift with the advent of 3D constructing. This research delves into the potential of 3D printing technologies when combined with generative design principles to reshape traditional construction methods. Through a comprehensive lens, the study evaluates the generative design workflow, decision-making algorithms, machines capacities and material considerations. Results indicate that, when synergized with generative design, these technologies offer sustainable, efficient, and tailored solutions. The use of accesible materials, such as clay and cement, demonstrates their superiority over conventional alternatives. However, the challenge lies in harmoniously integrating these innovations into architectural practice, ensuring a balance between cutting-edge advancements and practical application. Conclusively, this new approach heralds a future of sustainable and user-centric design, but its full potential can only be tapped with a holistic strategy that encompasses both design and material facets.

Debido a unas filtraciones detectadas al terminar la renovación de las cubiertas del Museo del Prado se decidió instalar sensores en sus diversas capas, cuyo diseño no es tradicional. Después de más de diez años de registro, los sensores de agua líquida muestran la acumulación de humedad en la capa de impermeabilización líquida. Sin embargo, no se ha detectado la presencia de agua líquida en las capas inferiores. Los sensores de humedad relativa muestran la presencia de condensaciones locales. Los sensores de temperatura muestran la capacidad aislante de las diferentes capas de la cubierta. Y los sensores de deformación muestran un incremento de deformación continuo con el tiempo, posiblemente debido a la fluencia del conjunto. Como conclusión del estudio, se puede afirmar que el comportamiento de la cubierta ha sido correcto ya que no se ha detectado la aparición de agua líquida en las capas internas de la cubierta.