Oct. 10, 2014
California-based architecture firm Emerging Objects has used 3D printing technology to create a structure that, according to the firm, can withstand earthquakes without mortar or rebar.
Called 'Quake Column', the pillar is made from 3D printed bricks that were printed in cement and then fitted together like a 3D puzzle. Each brick that comprises the Quake Column interlocks perfectly with neighboring blocks.
Emerging Objects says that the Quake Column draws from traditional Incan ashlar techniques to explore this possibility.
Peru is a highly seismic land and for centuries the mortar-free construction proved to be apparently more earthquake-resistant than using mortar. The interlocking stone of Incan structures creates an absence of resonant frequencies and stress concentration points. The dry-stone walls built by the Incas could move slightly during and earthquake and resettle without the walls collapsing, a passive structural control technique employing both the principle of energy dissipation and that of suppressing resonant amplifications. Inca walls also tend to incline inwards by 3° to 5° and the corners were rounded, which contributes to their stability.
While the cyclopean blocks of Incan construction are massive and weigh several tons, the 3D printed blocks are hollow, creating a high strength-to-weight ratio. Each block is numbered to designate its place in the construction sequence. Additionally, each block has a built in handle for easy lifting, control and placement of the massive 3D printed blocks.
"While this was an experiment in connectivity, we have been able to create 3-D printed parts that are much stronger than reinforced concrete in compression," says architect Ronald Rael. "We are also working on increasing the tensile strength of our materials using reinforcement fibers."
Posted in 3D Printing Technology
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This certainly seems a lot more feasible and practical than having one giant 3D printer doing a single house. I'm curious how they printed these blocks, or did they simply print the molds?
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