Versarien PLC, a UK-based advanced materials engineering group, has completed the construction phase of a 3D-printed concrete wall for use in road projects.
The project was completed in conjunction with a subsidiary of Costain Group PLC, a construction and engineering company we’ve talked about before when they built the UK’s first printed water chamber.
In the past, retaining wall frames have been made of precast concrete, which may have limitations in the shape of the frame and require steel reinforcement.
By using an alkali-activated cementitious material and a 3D printer, Versarien and Costain have been able to create a curved front wall that does not require steel reinforcement.
The headwall was created as part of the Digital Roads of the Future partnership, a collaboration led by the University of Cambridge, Costain and National Highways, of which Versarien is a partner.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Costain to produce this innovative structure that we believe provides significant benefits over those produced using traditional manufacturing techniques,” said Neill Ricketts, Versarien’s CEO.
“Using Versarien’s materials engineering expertise and understanding of the latest techniques, we have highlighted how new technologies can be employed to provide a solution to improve product performance, lower costs and reduce carbon footprint. We believe this represents the first use of 3D construction on a National Highway project and look forward to the headwall being installed, demonstrating the feasibility and appeal of using this technology and Versarien’s knowledge on future projects.”
The constructed head wall is due to be delivered and installed in one of Costain’s National Highway projects very soon.
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