Every month or so an article comes out reporting that some new object has been made using 3D printing: Everything from jewelry to prosthetic devices to electronic circuit boards to assault rifles to automobiles has now been created in this fashion. The prospect that this revolutionary manufacturing method will have a major impact on how we construct the various concrete structures that dominate the modern built environment brought almost three dozen experts to the Vanderbilt University campus July 16-17 to identify the areas of research required to realize its full potential.
“Clearly this is an emerging technology,” said Florence Sanchez, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt, who organized the meeting along with Jan Olek at Purdue University and Joseph Biernacki atTennessee Technological University. “The goal of this workshop is to explore how this new technology can help us to develop innovative new infrastructure materials.”