Intelligent additive manufacturing of SMART low-carbon cementitious composites

To tackle the challenges of climate change, there is a growing emphasis on developing green, eco-friendly resources alongside advanced digital technologies. The construction industry is undergoing significant transformations in both materials and digitalisation. With the European Union facing resource constraints, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to replace CO2-intensive materials and conserve natural resources. In response, the construction sector is increasingly adopting sustainable practices and materials, particularly in concrete technology. These efforts aim to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production, extend structural lifespans, minimise resource consumption, and improve the reliability of new construction technologies.The I am SMART project seeks to address these challenges by promoting a fully automated, greener, circular economic model for production and consumption. The project specifically focuses on developing a novel, intelligent 3D printing technology, supported by artificial intelligence (AI), capable of producing highly accurate printed structures. Additionally, the project aims to develop environmentally friendly cementitious feedstock derived from construction and demolition waste (CDW), as well as low-grade clay minerals, suitable for use in load-bearing building blocks. The project intends to imbue the structures with smart properties by integrating graphene-based materials (GBMs) into the feedstock, significantly enhancing their service life and reducing maintenance costs.The expertise of the Fellow, Dr. Mehdi Chougan, and the supervisor, Prof. Pawel Sikora, is complementary and will facilitate the development of novel construction materials and technologies through a reciprocal knowledge transfer and comprehensive training activities for the Fellow. The project will involve collaboration with world-leading academic and industrial partners, thereby enhancing the overall quality and impact of the research.