Hostname: page-component-76d6cb85b7-dqfph Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-07-20T08:01:05.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
Accepted manuscript

Design workflow for porous 3D printed biocement geometries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 July 2026

Karen Antorveza Paez
Affiliation:
Digital Building Technologies (DBT), Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich
Shuyi Huang*
Affiliation:
Digital Building Technologies (DBT), Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich Department of Architecture, Tsinghua University
Kai Hsun Yeh
Affiliation:
Digital Building Technologies (DBT), Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich
Kevin Seav
Affiliation:
Digital Building Technologies (DBT), Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich
Benjamin Dillenburger
Affiliation:
Digital Building Technologies (DBT), Department of Architecture, ETH Zurich
*
*Author for correspondence. Email: shuyihuangedu@gmail.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Accessibility of Accepted Manuscripts

Accepted Manuscripts are early, peer-reviewed versions that have not yet been copyedited, typeset, or formally published and may not meet all accessibility standards. A fully formatted accessible version will follow.

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) offers a low-energy, carbon-efficient alternative to traditional mineral material production, yet its integration into digital fabrication for architectural applications remains limited. This research presents a design-to-biofabrication workflow that combines computational geometry, robotic extrusion-based 3D printing, and MICP. The study introduces a methodology that uses porosity, surface-area-to-volume (SA/V) ratio, interlayer connectivity, and overhang capacity as coupled design parameters that balance biocementation requirements and fabrication constraints. Through iterative testing of Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) geometries, an “Optimized Unit” was developed and refined to improve printability and biomineralization efficiency. The workflow is validated through a 1 m2 architectural partition wall demonstrator that illustrates the potential for modular biomineralized architectural components. The results show that calibrated geometric control enables stable extrusion while enhancing mineral distribution, demonstrating a pathway toward architecturally scaled bio-fabricated mineral components.

Information

Type
Full Paper: Biodesign Conference
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press