Sustainable and Intelligent 3D Printable Concrete Systems Using Local and Industrial Waste Materials

The construction industry is responsible for significant global carbon emissions, resource consumption, and construction waste generation. Simultaneously, there is growing demand for rapid, affordable, resilient, and sustainable housing solutions worldwide. Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) has emerged as a transformative construction technology capable of reducing material waste, labour dependency, and construction time while enabling architectural flexibility and digital fabrication.

However, several critical challenges continue to limit the widespread implementation of 3DCP technologies. Existing printable concrete mixtures often rely heavily on traditional cement based binders and extensive trial-and-error optimisation approaches. Furthermore, the long-term durability behaviour of 3D printed structures under aggressive environmental conditions remains insufficiently understood. There is also limited integration of real-time structural health monitoring systems within 3D printed concrete infrastructure.

This PhD project aims to address these research gaps by developing sustainable and intelligent 3D printable concrete systems using locally sourced and industrial waste materials such as volcanic ash, ignimbrite, pumice, mine tailings, slag, fly ash, and other supplementary cementitious materials. The project will integrate advanced rheological modelling, durability assessment, sensor technology, and small-scale prototype construction to develop next-generation low-carbon construction systems.

Location

University of Waikato, Hamilton Campus

Civil/mechanical/materials/architecture/built environmental/structural/construction engineering background with a masters degree.

Standard eligibility criteria for PhD admission applies.