Dissolvable 3D Printed Formwork

Abstract

This research explores the potentials, limitations, and advantages of 3D printing watersoluble formwork for reinforced concrete applications. Using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) forms and Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament with ground steel tensile reinforcement, this project explores the constraints and opportunities for architects to design and construct reinforced concrete using water soluble 3D printed formwork with embedded reinforcement. Research began with testing small PVA prints for consistency, heat of water-temperature for dissolving, and wall thickness of the printed formwork. Then, dual-extrusion desktop additive manufacturing was used as a method for creating a larger form to test the viability of translating this research into architectural scale applications. This paper describes the background research, materials, methods, fabrication process, and conclusions of this work in progress.