Awards
Awards
> Modular & Recycled: 3D printed glass components for circular construction - MISTI
Interfacing of 3D printed and cast glass bricks for circular construction
Keywords
Cast glass, 3D printed glass, Structural glass, Interface, Connection, Architecture, Casting, Glass structures, Glass bricks.
Project duration
11.2024 – 07.2026
Initiated by
Dr. Ir. Telesilla Bristogianni (BK)
Dr. ir. Faidra Oikonomopoulou (BK)
Collaborators
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
About
Glass’s high compressive strength, versatility and recyclability, render it an excellent candidate for circular structural components in the built environment. Glass can be recycled without performance degradation and requires significantly less energy and resources than founding virgin glass. Structural glass components typically employ virgin raw materials, are over-dimensioned, and rely on permanent bonding methods that hinder reuse and recycling. The aim of this research collaboration is to develop fully-circular 3D-printed glass structures for the built environment that are made of recycled glass, are mass-optimized, and allow for disassembly, reuse and recycling at their end-of-life. In particular, 3D-printing of recycled glass promotes a sustainable production method because it can employ waste glass as the raw material, reduces manufacturing waste by eliminating moulds, and allows for customized structural glass units without adding or modifying tooling. However, to achieve fully circular 3D-printed glass structures, it is essential to design a reversible connection between the printed, customized glass units that transfers the desired loading, accommodates customization, allows for easy disassembly, and prevents contamination that hinders the recyclability of the glass units.
The focus of this research collaboration will be directed towards the experimental investigation and prototyping of novel reversible joinery systems that allow for full reclamation of structural glass constructions.
The research leverages the TU Delft team’s expertise in recycling waste glass via casting and assembly systems for glass masonry with the MIT team’s expertise in glass 3D-printing and design for manufacturing.
Funded by
MIT Center for International Studies - Global Seed Fund 2024
Contact
Dr. Faidra Oikonomopoulou
+31641140976