Advances in 3D printing scaffolds for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury repair

Because of the complex nerve anatomy and limited regeneration ability of natural tissue,the current treatment effect for long-distance peripheral nerve regeneration and spinal cord injury(SCI)repair is not satisfactory.As an alternative method,tissue engineering is a promising method to regenerate peripheral nerve and spinal cord,and can provide structures and functions similar to natural tissues through scaffold materials and seed cells.Recently,the rapid development of 3D printing technology enables researchers to create novel 3D constructs with sophisticated structures and diverse functions to achieve high bionics of structures and functions.In this review,we first outlined the anatomy of peripheral nerve and spinal cord,as well as the current treatment strategies for the peripheral nerve injury and SCI in clinical.After that,the design considerations of peripheral nerve and spinal cord tissue engineering were discussed,and various 3D printing technologies applicable to neural tissue engineering were elaborated,including inkjet,extrusion-based,stereolithography,projection-based,and emerging printing technologies.Finally,we focused on the application of 3D printing technology in peripheral nerve regeneration and spinal cord repair,as well as the challenges and prospects in this research field.

A Building Information Modeling-Life Cycle Cost Analysis Integrated Model to Enhance Decisions Related to the Selection of Construction Methods at the Conceptual Design Stage of Buildings

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) provides a systematic approach to assess the total cost associated with owning, operating, and maintaining assets throughout their entire life. BIM empowers architects and designers to perform real-time evaluations to explore various design options. However, when integrated with LCCA, BIM provides a comprehensive economic perspective that helps stakeholders understand the long-term financial implications of design decisions. This study presents a methodology for developing a model that seamlessly integrates BIM and LCCA during the conceptual design stage of buildings. This integration allows for a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the design process, ensuring that the development aligns with the principles of low carbon emissions by employing modular construction, 3D concrete printing methods, and different building design alternatives. The model considers the initial construction costs in addition to all the long-term operational, maintenance, and salvage values. It combines various tools and data through different modules, including energy analysis, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to execute a comprehensive assessment of the financial implications of a specific design option throughout the lifecycle of building projects. The development of the said model and its implementation involves the creation of a new plug-in for the BIM tool (i.e., Autodesk Revit) to enhance its functionalities and capabilities in forecasting the life-cycle costs of buildings in addition to generating associated cash flows, creating scenarios, and sensitivity analyses in an automatic manner. This model empowers designers to evaluate and justify their initial investments while designing and selecting potential construction methods for buildings, and enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions by assessing different design alternatives based on long-term financial considerations during the early stages of design.

From BIM model to 3D construction printing:A framework proposal

The growth of 3D construction printing needs appropriate integration into the planning and execution phases of building projects.With this aim,the Architecture,Engineering,and Construction sector(AEC)has been increasingly adopting building information modeling(BIM)systems to synchronize design and construction processes.This study proposes a technical workflow to manage 3D construction printing into BIM models,evaluating various procedures according to construction element features.Based on mature software platforms,the research details the data transfer process using a case study of a single-story home.The case delves into design procedures for constructing walls of varied shapes,adjustments in width,joints,openings,textures,fillings,and the insertion of reinforcements and services while also discussing requirements of other building elements.Work steps for managing design information and controlling printing machines are described.The study’s outcome presents a comprehensive information flow,encompassing model segmentation,geometric data transfer,adjustments of details,and the generation of printing paths.Then,it is offered a discussion that underlines the importance of a synergistic digital information flow that merges both design and execution phases,promoting construction efficiency and the embrace of innovative technologies.The contribution of the paper focuses on technical design strategies for 3D construction printing,but also on suggesting an integrated process.

State-of-the-art of 3D printing technology of cementitious material—An emerging technique for construction

In recent few years, significant improvement has been made in developing largescale 3 D printer to accommodate the need of industrial-scale 3 D printing. Cementitious materials that are compatible with 3 D printing promote rapid application of this innovative technique in the construction field with advantages of cost effective, high efficiency, design flexibility and environmental friendly. This paper firstly reviews existing 3 D printing techniques that are currently being used in commercial3 D printers. It then summarizes three latest development of largescale 3 D printing systems and identifies their relationships and limiting factors. Thereafter, critical factors that are used to evaluate the workability and printable performance of cementitious materials are specified. Easy-extrusive, easy-flowing, well-buildable, and proper setting time are significant for cementitious material to meet the critical requirements of a freeform construction process. Finally, main advantages, potential applications and the prospects of future research of 3 D printing in construction technology are suggested. The objective of this work is to review current design methodologies and operational constraints of largescale 3 D printing system and provide references for optimizing the performance of cementitious material and promote its responsible use with largescale 3 D printing technology.