This website necessitates specific cookies for its functionality and utilizes other cookies to enhance your experience. Upon visiting this website, certain cookies have already been implemented, which you are able to delete and block. By either closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the utilization of cookies. To gain further insight, kindly refer to our updated privacy and cookie policy. Dr. Kamal Khayat, featured here with a 3D printer in Missouri S&T's Advanced Materials Characterization Laboratory, is spearheading various research projects related to 3D printing concrete. One of these projects, funded with $1. 4 million from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, aims to develop an artificial intelligence program that can determine the best locally-available materials for concrete used in the Corps' established 3D printing methods. This technology will enable the Corps, the primary agency responsible for infrastructure on navigable waterways in the U. S. , to quickly construct 3D-printed concrete structures without relying on large material deliveries via ready-mix trucks and other means. AI-driven tools like Concrete. ai, in addition to the one being developed for the Corps by Dr. Khayat and his team, are revolutionizing the delivery of building materials, employing machine-learning techniques to optimize mixes and effectively utilize locally available materials like aggregates and alternative additives. Dr. Khayat, S&T's Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, explains, "By harnessing the power of AI, our research team aims to streamline the process of material selection, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. The AI program will evaluate a wide range of locally-available materials in various areas and identify the most appropriate combinations for 3D printing concrete. " Dr. Khayat further emphasizes that employing this AI tool, still in the developmental stage, will enhance construction efficiency, improve troop safety, promote sustainability, and expedite humanitarian assistance missions both in the U. S. and abroad. The project is led by Dr.

Khayat, a professor of civil engineering at Missouri S&T in Rolla, who collaborates with researchers specializing in materials science and engineering, civil engineering, and computer science. The program has the potential to create a range of structures, from temporary bridges and barracks to guardhouses and defense obstacles. Over the past five years, the Corps has dedicated a significant portion of its research budget to exploring improved methods of concrete construction, specifically for its lock and dam projects along navigable waters and for use by troops in locations where traditional materials may not be readily available. The Corps has also partnered with companies like LaFarge/Holcim to investigate innovative approaches to sustainable building materials. The Missouri S&T team's goal for the AI-driven concrete mix is to ensure that 50% or more of the materials used are locally sourced, replacing traditional cementitious materials. The AI will be trained using data collected from tests to evaluate the pumpability, extrudability, and overall suitability of alternative ingredients for construction purposes. Potential materials include natural minerals, industrial byproducts, and agricultural waste, such as rice husk ash, palm oil fuel ash, ground dolomite, and ground glass. Dr. Khayat highlights the potential sustainability benefits and local economic advantages that can arise from using these materials. The research project will also explore various fibers for reinforcing the 3D-printed structures, including conventional options like metal and synthetic structural fibers, as well as unconventional choices derived from plants and recycled materials, such as bamboo, coconut, glass, hemp, cellulose, and rubber. 3D printing of concrete is a well-established technology within the Corps. The agency has developed methods for printing structures, including barracks walls and roof beams, through the use of a hose and nozzle attached to a gantry crane. Dr. Khayat believes that this comprehensive project will have a significant impact on the mobility of troops, drastically reducing supply chain issues and construction costs. In other news related to the construction industry, technology adoption and maturity are rapidly advancing, but over half of the industry has yet to embrace connected data and lacks a clear data strategy. Join our webinar to learn about the key hurdles to avoid and the mistakes made by industry leaders. The webinar will provide valuable insights for effective technology implementation in construction projects.