Developing 3D Printing capabilities using Indigenous local materials for the construction sector in Oman

At the core of the strategic development of a country must be the desire to develop human resources and excel in technological advancement. This has been the approach for all developed countries like the USA, Japan, China, and Korea which led to their technological advancements. The two aspects directly relate to all the indices usually used to define the progress and development of the country. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution-4.0 (IR4), there is a global race towards the inclusion of automation in all facets of engineering, while global warming and climate change have made it essential to incorporate sustainability and optimization in engineering solutions. Vision Oman 2040 strongly emphasizes on having a knowledge-based economy for research and innovation s one of the pillars of this strategy. The construction industry especially in Oman has remained conventional even during the rapid growth in cities and urban settlements over the past decades. The industry can make use of the IR4 through 3D-printing technology. Compared to standard manufacturing it has a higher fabrication speed, reduced waste production, ease of prototyping, and freedom in design. 3D Printing of Concrete (3DPC) is done using the extrusion process that involves the process involves mixing, feeding, pumping, and then extruding the concrete to complete the printing process. Each phase has its own requirements, which are contrary to the other, thus making the process extremely sensitive to the rheology and the constituents of concrete. This research, therefore, will focus on investigating the optimal mix design using local indigenous materials that can fulfill the requirement for 3D printing, while also considering the use of sustainable replacement of the ingredients of concrete. The research will investigate the use of a novel approach to the delivery of concrete to printing to better fulfill the contradicting engineering requirements in each phase. Also, the research will explore developing a smart mixer that can monitor and control the rheological characteristics of concrete to improve the overall 3D-printing process. The project will provide In-Country Value (ICV) for the 3DPC technology, lead to local capacity building, and rely on locally available materials and technology advancement in the field of construction.