STTR Phase II: Large Scale Freeform Fabrication for the Construction Industry

这个小型企业技术转移（STTR）第二阶段项目将开发和商业化一种新的方法来建造大型模块化物体，如混凝土墙和用于建造房屋的组件，使用固体自由成型制造工艺。所提出的方法的新颖之处在于它能够生产比其他类似方法更厚的壁厚结构。结构可以有轮廓面和对齐指南，以允许分层施工的快速组装。在第一阶段的研究中，我们已经验证了泡沫结构的基本概念，并将重点研究加气混凝土作为结构材料。该方法有望以最少的劳动力和预制组件的预制组装快速建造房屋。这个项目的广泛影响，如果成功，将代表着一个以保守著称的行业的彻底背离，导致廉价的预制房屋的建设。这项技术将解决美国和发展中国家的一个重要市场，为大量低收入消费者提供负担得起的住房。这种技术的其他应用包括建造大型物体，如船体（游乐设施）。

This Small Business Technology Transfer ( STTR) Phase II project will develop and commercialize a novel way to construct large, modular objects, such as concrete walls and components used in building a home, using a solid freeform fabrication process. The novelty of the proposed process is that is is capable of producing structures with wall thicknesses which are thickner than other similar methods. The structures can have contoured faces and alignment guides to permit quick assembly of layerwise construction. The proposed research will focus on aerated concrete as the structural materiaol, having proven the basic concept on structural foam in the Phase I research. The method is expected to result in rapid construction of homes with minimal labor and onsight assembly of pre-fabricated components. The broader impacts of this project, if successful, would represent a radical departure in a notoriously conservative industry, leading to the construction of inexpensive, pre-fabricated homes. The technology will address a significant market in the U.S. and developing countries to provide affordable homes to a very large population of low-income consumers. Other applications where this technique could be employed include construction of large objects such as boat hulls (pleasurecraft).