IIT Guwahati, Startup Team Develop ‘Sustainable’ 3D-Printed Security Post Using Industrial Waste

As a part of India's G20 initiatives, IIT Guwahati innovators have constructed a 3D-printed security post using a special M40 grade sustainable concrete containing industrial wastes and fibres.

Guwahati: Under India’s G20 Presidency, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati is working actively to make a major contribution towards building a sustainable future. 

As a part of India's G20 initiatives, IIT Guwahati innovators have constructed a 3D-printed security post using a special M40 grade sustainable concrete containing industrial wastes, fibres and chemical admixtures, which are additives used in the concrete mixture to enhance its properties. 

An M40 grade concrete has a characteristic compressive strength of 40 N/mm2 (Newtons per square millimetre). This means that the concrete can withstand stress (force per unit area) or load of up to 40 Newtons per square millimetre. Beyond this pressure, materials built by the concrete will break. This means that the 3D-printed security post, which has been constructed using an M40 grade sustainable concrete, can withstand pressures up to 40 Newtons per square millimetre. 

Dodda Srinivas, Dhrutiman Dey and Akshay Sahu started a startup called Stratify 3D Private Limited under the mentorship of Biranchi Panda, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Department, IIT Guwahati, and developed this digital technology in line with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What is special about the technology?

The automated and innovative technology developed at IIT Guwahati is believed to provide customised houses in India in less construction time with controlled quality.

The security post was built in collaboration with IIT Guwahati’s Infrastructure, Planning and Management team, and is claimed to be sustainable in terms of construction practice, and material composition. 

The 3D-printed security post has a carpet area of 85 square feet, and consists of 56 modules. For the first time, the team printed custom-designed tetrahedron modules having overhang features of 22 degrees and embossed features up to 40 mm. Tetrahedrons are triangular pyramids. 

In order to print the overhanging features, a special sustainable concrete mix design, the patent for which is pending, was prepared with different combinations of accelerators and retarders that meet the rheological and mechanical performance requirements of a 3D-printed structure. 

In concrete technology, an accelerator is an admixture which makes a concrete set faster, by increasing its rate of hydration. A retarder delays the setting time of concrete without affecting its compression strength. 

The modules were printed using an automated concrete 3D printer in 15 hours, and later assembled on site using a special bonding agent. 

Explaining the unique features of this 3D-printed security post, Panda said: “In this project, we addressed the aesthetic potential of digital construction technology while utilising sustainable construction materials. The material and surface texture demonstrate the remarkable aesthetic possibilities of concrete printing technology used for the security post construction.”

Importance of Industry 4.0

The world is witnessing transformative trends of demographic transitions and technological changes such as Industry 4.0, which is revolutionising the way in which companies manufacture, improve and distribute their products. Manufacturers are incorporating new technologies such as artificial intelligence and Internet of Things into their production facilities. 

However, research focusing on Industry 4.0 applications and circular economy in the construction sector is sparse. The construction sector represents 13 per cent of the GDP and produces approximately 40 percent of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Emerging technologies such as 3D-printing play a vital role in achieving a circular construction economy. A circular economy refers to an economy which keeps products, materials and services in circulation for as long as possible, and is an important part of slowing climate change.

According to Parameswar K. Iyer, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati, Industry 4.0 is a priority under India’s G20 Presidency. “As technology advances, it is essential that India’s youth be prepared to compete on a global scale. The tech industry can play a crucial role in preparing India’s youth for global competition by providing industry-academia collaboration, and entrepreneurial support. Advancements in technologies such as additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, using sustainable and locally available resources enable new location-specific designs and modern economic structures,” Iyer said.

The on-site assembly and technology demonstration of the security post were showcased during the Youth20 (Y20) Inception Meet held at IIT Guwahati, from February 6 to 8. The post was then formally handed over to the security personnel to start its operation in the presence of Iyer, Panda, Superintendent Engineer L.K. Singh, and Associate Dean IPM K.D. Singh.

The Y20 Inception Meet brought together young leaders from around the world to discuss the future of manufacturing and the role of technology in shaping the industry.

Aligning with this ideology, IIT Guwahati is working on multiple projects to ensure natural assets can deliver their full economic potential on a sustainable basis.