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Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614026254516224 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Timm, Kim Anne |
| author2 | De Villiers, Wibke |
| author_browse | De Villiers, Wibke Timm, Kim Anne |
| author_facet | De Villiers, Wibke Timm, Kim Anne |
| author_sort | Timm, Kim Anne |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134839 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:29.584Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134839 Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy Timm, Kim Anne De Villiers, Wibke Van Zijl, Gideon Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Construction industry -- Technological innovations Three-dimensional printing Circular economy Sustainable construction Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Timm, K. A. 2025. Integration of 3DCP into Conventional Construction Processes and the Circular Economy. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/ba73765e-7fbd-4ff4-9190-6094e4e76a23 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The widescale adoption of 3D concrete printing (3DCP) is currently limited by its lack of integration with conventional construction projects and processes. This is exacerbated by the construction industry's traditionally slow rate of technological adoption, as well as ongoing challenges related to test standardisation, regulation, quality assurance, and cost. At the same time, the industry’s primary focus is shifting toward sustainability. As a result, any emerging technology must demonstrate its potential to contribute meaningfully to a more sustainable built environment. This research investigated how 3DCP project processes can be incorporated into the conventional construction industry processes to promote broader adoption while encouraging circularity. The primary aim is to develop the role of 3DCP in the circular economy through a project framework that facilitates the integration of 3DCP and the design of a functional example of a structural element that adheres to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle as defined by the waste hierarchy. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative data from ten stakeholder interviews with quantitative data from 167 survey respondents. This provided a holistic understanding of the project processes and information flows in conventional, 3DCP, and off-site construction (OSC) projects. The resulting 3DCP process framework was developed using the existing OSC framework as a reference model and was subsequently validated against relevant industry standards. Key role players, including the 3DCP engineer, machine/materials specialist and specialist contractor, and requirements such as new regulations and a 3DCP Handbook and Digital Certificate of Compliance, were identified as essential for enabling a smooth integration. In parallel, a scoping review was conducted to evaluate current 3DCP practices in relation to the waste hierarchy and the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. The review assessed the potential of 3DCP to contribute to sustainability goals within the construction industry. Drawing from the best practices developed from this review, a structural element “The Wheel” was developed. It demonstrated that it was possible to create an element with a reduced cross-section and a mix containing waste and recycled material, in such a manner that it could be disassembled and reused thereby directly aligning with circular economy objectives. This research contributes a novel framework for integrating 3DCP into conventional construction workflows. It identifies key stakeholders, maps their stages of involvement, and outlines the required information flows to facilitate integration. The framework is supported by a practical case study that demonstrates how 3DCP can be used not only for innovation but also for promoting circularity in structural design. By embedding 3DCP into established project processes, the technology becomes more accessible to construction professionals. With increased accessibility comes greater familiarity, reducing barriers to adoption and supporting the broader uptake of this promising technology. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wydverspreide aanvaarding van 3D-betondrukwerk (3DCP) word tans beperk deur die gebrek aan integrasie met konvensionele konstruksieprojekte en -prosesse. Dit word vererger deur die konstruksiebedryf se tradisioneel stadige tempo van tegnologie aanvaarding, sowel as voortdurende uitdagings wat verband hou met toetsstandaardisering, regulering, gehalteversekering en koste. Terselfdertyd verskuif die bedryf se primêre fokus na volhoubaarheid. Gevolglik moet enige opkomende tegnologie sy potensiaal om betekenisvol tot 'n meer volhoubare bou-omgewing by te dra, demonstreer. Hierdie navorsing het ondersoek hoe 3DCP-projekprosesse in konvensionele konstruksiebedryfprosesse geïnkorporeer kan word om breër aanvaarding te bevorder terwyl sirkulariteit bevorder word. Die primêre doel is om 'n projekraamwerk te ontwikkel wat die integrasie van 3DCP fasiliteer en om 'n funksionele voorbeeld van 'n strukturele element fasiliteer. Die strukturele element voldoen aan die beginsels van verminder, hergebruik, herwin soos gedefineer deur die afvalhierargie. 'n Gemengde navorsingsbenadering is gebruik, wat kwalitatiewe data van tien belanghebberonderhoude gekombineer het met kwantitatiewe data van 167 opname-respondente. Dit het 'n holistiese begrip van die projekprosesse en inligtingsvloei in konvensioneleprojekte, 3DCPprojekte en projekte met konstruksie van die terrein af (OSC), verskaf. Die gevolglike 3DCPprosesraamwerk is ontwikkel met behulp van die bestaande OSC raamwerk as 'n verwysingsmodel en is vervolgens gevalideer teen relevante bedryfstandaarde. Sleutelrolspelers, insluitend die 3DCPingenieur, masjien-/materiaalspesialis en spesialiskontrakteur, asook vereistes soos nuwe regulasies en 'n 3DCP-handboek, is geïdentifiseer as noodsaaklik om 'n gladde integrasie moontlik te maak. In parallel is 'n omvangsoorsig uitgevoer om huidige 3DCP-praktyke te evalueer in verhouding tot die afvalhiërargie en die beginsels van vermindering, hergebruik en herwinning. Die oorsig het die potensiaal van 3DCP beoordeel om by te dra tot volhoubaarheidsdoelwitte binne konstruksie. Deur gebruik te maak van die beste praktyke wat uit hierdie oorsig ontwikkel is, was 'n strukturele element "The Wheel" ontwikkel. Dit het gedemonstreer dat dit moontlik was om 'n element met 'n verminderde dwarssnit en 'n mengsel wat afval en herwinde materiaal bevat, te skep, op so 'n manier dat dit uitmekaar gehaal en hergebruik kon word, wat direk in lyn was met die doelwitte van die sirkulêre ekonomie. Hierdie navorsing dra by tot 'n nuwe raamwerk vir die integrasie van 3DCP in konvensionele konstruksiewerkstrome. Dit identifiseer belangrike belanghebbendes, karteer hul stadiums van betrokkenheid en skets die vereiste inligtingsvloei om integrasie te fasiliteer. Die raamwerk word ondersteun deur 'n praktiese gevallestudie wat demonstreer hoe 3DCP nie net vir innovasie gebruik kan word nie, maar ook vir die bevordering van sirkulariteit in strukturele ontwerp. Deur 3DCP in gevestigde projekprosesse in te sluit, word die tegnologie meer toeganklik vir professionele projekspanne. Met verhoogde toeganklikheid kom groter vertroudheid, wat hindernisse vir aanvaarding verminder en die breër opname van hierdie belowende tegnologie ondersteun. Doctoral 2026-01-12T09:23:53Z 2026-01-12T09:23:53Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134839 Stellenbosch University xi, 143 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Construction industry -- Technological innovations Three-dimensional printing Circular economy Sustainable construction Timm, Kim Anne Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title | Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title_full | Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title_fullStr | Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title_short | Integration of 3DCP into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| title_sort | integration of 3dcp into conventional construction processes and the circular economy |
| topic | Construction industry -- Technological innovations Three-dimensional printing Circular economy Sustainable construction |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134839 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timmkimanne integrationof3dcpintoconventionalconstructionprocessesandthecirculareconomy |