Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure
This paper aims to assess the environmental life cycle of a real lead-bearing 3D printed earthen-based (3DP-E) structure built on-site, “TOVA” in Spain. The method followed a cradle-to-site approach focusing on wall structure. Three different structure scenarios are compared with the 3DP-E; conventi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007235 |
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| author | Deena El-Mahdy Eugene Marais Marwa AbdelRahim Alexandre Dubor Edouard Cabay |
| author_facet | Deena El-Mahdy Eugene Marais Marwa AbdelRahim Alexandre Dubor Edouard Cabay |
| author_sort | Deena El-Mahdy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper aims to assess the environmental life cycle of a real lead-bearing 3D printed earthen-based (3DP-E) structure built on-site, “TOVA” in Spain. The method followed a cradle-to-site approach focusing on wall structure. Three different structure scenarios are compared with the 3DP-E; conventional fired bricks construction, 3DP concrete (3DP-C), and 3DP-E (optimised). The results show that the conventional structure scenario is the highest impact in all the indicators. Global warming indicates the highest results in the conventional method than the 3DP methods with a value of 12004.5 kg CO2 eq, while 264.759 kg CO2 eq, 161.368 kg CO2 eq, and 592.995 kg CO2 eq, respectively for the 3DP-E, 3DP-E(O), and 3DP-C respectively. A significant environmental enhancement in global warming for 3DP-E and 3DP-E(optimized) are 55 % and 72 % respectively compared to 3DP-C, and around 97 % enhancement compared to the conventional technique. Regarding the carbon emission from transportation, 3DP-E recorded the lowest ratio from transportation, as 85 % of the materials were locally sourced from the site. Unlike the 3DP-C and conventional scenarios where both had the highest ratio of 100 %, where all the materials were imported. This paper contributes by highlighting the potential of 3DP-E to enhance sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of construction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20e0c97574aa46acb415bf335bf19e81 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2214-5095 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Studies in Construction Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-20e0c97574aa46acb415bf335bf19e812025-08-20T03:21:38ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-12-0123e0492510.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04925Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structureDeena El-Mahdy0Eugene Marais1Marwa AbdelRahim2Alexandre Dubor3Edouard Cabay4The British University in Egypt, Faculty of Engineering, El‐Sherouk City, Egypt; IaaC, Institute For Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Spain; Corresponding author at: The British University in Egypt, Faculty of Engineering, El‐Sherouk City, Egypt.IaaC, Institute For Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Spain; University of Johannesburg, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, South AfricaIaaC, Institute For Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, SpainIaaC, Institute For Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, SpainIaaC, Institute For Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, SpainThis paper aims to assess the environmental life cycle of a real lead-bearing 3D printed earthen-based (3DP-E) structure built on-site, “TOVA” in Spain. The method followed a cradle-to-site approach focusing on wall structure. Three different structure scenarios are compared with the 3DP-E; conventional fired bricks construction, 3DP concrete (3DP-C), and 3DP-E (optimised). The results show that the conventional structure scenario is the highest impact in all the indicators. Global warming indicates the highest results in the conventional method than the 3DP methods with a value of 12004.5 kg CO2 eq, while 264.759 kg CO2 eq, 161.368 kg CO2 eq, and 592.995 kg CO2 eq, respectively for the 3DP-E, 3DP-E(O), and 3DP-C respectively. A significant environmental enhancement in global warming for 3DP-E and 3DP-E(optimized) are 55 % and 72 % respectively compared to 3DP-C, and around 97 % enhancement compared to the conventional technique. Regarding the carbon emission from transportation, 3DP-E recorded the lowest ratio from transportation, as 85 % of the materials were locally sourced from the site. Unlike the 3DP-C and conventional scenarios where both had the highest ratio of 100 %, where all the materials were imported. This paper contributes by highlighting the potential of 3DP-E to enhance sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of construction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007235Earthen materials3D printingLife cycle assessmentCO2 emissionMonitoringGlobal warming potential |
| spellingShingle | Deena El-Mahdy Eugene Marais Marwa AbdelRahim Alexandre Dubor Edouard Cabay Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure Case Studies in Construction Materials Earthen materials 3D printing Life cycle assessment CO2 emission Monitoring Global warming potential |
| title | Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure |
| title_full | Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure |
| title_fullStr | Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure |
| title_short | Life cycle assessment of earth-based residential unit “TOVA”: A 3D printed on-site load-bearing structure |
| title_sort | life cycle assessment of earth based residential unit tova a 3d printed on site load bearing structure |
| topic | Earthen materials 3D printing Life cycle assessment CO2 emission Monitoring Global warming potential |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525007235 |
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