3D printed modular structures as a potential solution to increased housing demands in African countries

Bindzi, Laurent

dc.contributor.author	Bindzi, Laurent	en
dc.date.accessioned	2026-07-21T11:15:40Z
dc.date.available	2026-07-21T11:15:40Z
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/65564
dc.identifier.uri	http://dx.doi.org/10.26240/heal.ntua.33258
dc.rights	Default License
dc.subject	3D concrete printing	en
dc.subject	modular structures	en
dc.subject	Conventional construction	en
dc.subject	Africa	en
dc.subject	3DPMS	en
dc.subject	SAP2000	en
dc.title	3D printed modular structures as a potential solution to increased housing demands in African countries	el
dc.contributor.department	Steel of structure	el
heal.type	masterThesis	el
heal.classification	Structural engineering	en
heal.language	en	el
heal.access	free	el
heal.recordProvider	ntua	el
heal.publicationDate	2026-06-24
heal.abstract	The global challenge of access to affordable and sustainable housing, particularly in the context of the housing crisis in Africa, has sparked increasing interest in additive manufacturing and solutions such as 3D printing. The housing shortage, coupled with rising costs of conventional building materials, necessitates the adoption of innovative new construction technologies. This study evaluates the adoption of 3D-printed modular structures (3DPMS) as an innovative and sustainable solution to the housing shortage in Africa. It presents in detail a 3D-printed house (a single-story unit C), modeled and analyzed using SAP2000 software. Furthermore, it focuses on comparing three structural variants: a traditional approach (Type A), a conventional four-story structure (Type B), and a 3D-printed solution optimized with ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced mortar (Type C). The results of the structural analysis, particularly the bending moment and shear force diagrams presented in this work, demonstrate that the 15 cm thick 3D-printed mortar walls offer sufficient safety margins against failure and cracking. Furthermore, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) results demonstrate the significant superiority of the 3DPMS system. Adopting Type C allows for a drastic 84% reduction in CO2 emissions by replying on the topological optimization of the walls and the use of HPFRCC. Financially, the study reveals a 42.2% saving on overall costs, primarily due to the complete elimination of formwork costs and a 66% reduction in labor costs. A multi-criteria analysis confirms that, despite a higher initial technological investment, 3DPMS offers unparalleled structural efficiency and speed of execution, positioning 3D printing as a strategic lever for sustainable and economically viable construction. This research concludes that 3DPMS is not only structurally viable in the African context but also offers a realistic pathway to the industrialization of affordable housing in sub-Saharan Africa.	en
heal.advisorName	Gkatzogiannis, Stefanos	en
heal.advisorName	Charalampos, Gantes	en
heal.committeeMemberName	Vamvatsikos, Dimitrios	en
heal.committeeMemberName	Thanopoulos, Pavlos	en
heal.academicPublisher	Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο. Σχολή Πολιτικών Μηχανικών	el
heal.academicPublisherID	ntua	el
heal.numberOfPages	170 σ.	el
heal.fullTextAvailability	false