{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T18:29:31Z","timestamp":1776364171054,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":60,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,20]],"date-time":"2023-03-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1679270400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Three-dimensional (3D) printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), is a production can be utilised to fabricate 3D shapes from a simulated file. This technology has gained global popularity in the construction industry since 2014 due to its wide range of applications. AM promotes a more automated, innovative, flexible, and sustainable construction method, making it an integral part of the Construction Industry 4.0. However, there need to be more detailed studies regarding the effectiveness of AM as the future direction in the construction industry. This paper investigates the application of the finite element method (FEM) in assessing 3D-printed structures to get insight into the performance of these structures. Three leading 3D-printed structures were selected, including Dubai Future Foundation in the United Arab Emirates, Apis Cor house in Russia and PERI house in Germany. Structural and thermal analyses, including linear static, natural frequency, spectral response, and steady state heat, were performed using Strand7 to assess the effectiveness of AM in construction and the reliability of FEM in analysing 3D-printed structures. Although there are limited standards and regulations for 3D-printed structures in most countries, it was concluded that 3D-printed structures presented a similar strength to traditional ones. Moreover, FEM can be used to provide a reasonable analysis of the performance of these structures, while complying with the relevant standards. This paper presents a novel numerical procedure to assess the performance of small-scale 3D-printed structures under various mechanical and thermal loadings by checking against the relevant standards.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/app13063929","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,20]],"date-time":"2023-03-20T04:05:23Z","timestamp":1679285123000},"page":"3929","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["The Application of Finite Element Simulation and 3D Printing in Structural Design within Construction Industry 4.0"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0730-2998","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Faham","family":"Tahmasebinia","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-4307-456X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amir Abbas","family":"Jabbari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil Engineering, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW 2008, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0819-2345","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Krzysztof","family":"Skrzypkowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Civil Engineering and Resource Management, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Krakow, Poland"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kumar, S., and Prasad, R. (2021). Basic Principles of Additive Manufacturing: Different Additive Manufacturing Technologies, Woodhead Publishing.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-822056-6.00012-6"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maskuriy, R., Selamat, A., Ali, K., Maresova, P., and Krejcar, O. (2019). Industry 4.0 for the Construction Industry\u2014How Ready Is the Industry?. Appl. Sci., 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/app9142819"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1169","DOI":"10.1002\/2017EF000632","article-title":"A Systematic Study of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Interactions","volume":"5","author":"Pradhan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Earth's Future"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Google Trends (2022, April 16). 3D Printing in Construction. Available online: https:\/\/trends.google.com\/trends\/explore?date=all&q=3D%20printing%20in%20construction."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/0168-874X(85)90003-4","article-title":"A proposed standard set of problems to test finite element accuracy","volume":"1","author":"Macneal","year":"1985","journal-title":"Finite Elem. Anal. Des."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1016\/j.promfg.2019.06.001","article-title":"Finite Element Analysis of 3D Printed Model viaCompression Tests","volume":"35","author":"Abbot","year":"2019","journal-title":"Procedia Manuf."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.14455\/ISEC.res.2019.184","article-title":"Towards Digitizing the Construction Industry: State of the Art of Construction 4.0","volume":"6","author":"Hossain","year":"2019","journal-title":"Proc. Int. Struct. Eng. Constr."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"02046","DOI":"10.1051\/matecconf\/201710002046","article-title":"Research on Development of Construction Industrialization Based on BIM Technology under the Background of Industry 4.0","volume":"100","author":"Li","year":"2017","journal-title":"MATEC Web Conf."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compind.2016.09.006","article-title":"Understanding the Implications of Digitisation and Automation in The Context of Industry 4.0: A Triangulation Approach and Elements of a Research Agenda for The Construction Industry","volume":"83","author":"Oesterreich","year":"2016","journal-title":"Comput. Ind."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2018.05.028","article-title":"Construction Automation: Research Areas, Industry Concerns and Suggestions for Advancement","volume":"94","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compind.2018.03.039","article-title":"Industry 4.0 As an Enabler of Proximity for Construction Supply Chains: A Systematic Literature Review","volume":"99","author":"Dallasega","year":"2018","journal-title":"Comput. Ind."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"70","article-title":"Why would a Construction Business have a Document Management System?","volume":"34","author":"Wright","year":"2013","journal-title":"Credit. Control"},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Global Industry 4.0 Survey (2022, April 05). Engineering and Construction Key Findings. Available online: https:\/\/www.pwc.nl\/nl\/assets\/documents\/industry-4-0-engineering-and-construction-key-findings.pdf."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"eaam8986","DOI":"10.1126\/scirobotics.aam8986","article-title":"Toward Site-Specific and Self-Sufficient Robotic Fabrication on Architectural Scales","volume":"2","author":"Keating","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Robot."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2018.05.004","article-title":"Digital Construction: From Point Solutions to Iot Ecosystem","volume":"93","author":"Woodhead","year":"2018","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1016\/j.proeng.2016.11.619","article-title":"Implementation of Scrum in the Construction Industry","volume":"164","author":"Streule","year":"2016","journal-title":"Procedia Eng."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"World Economic Forum (2022, April 05). Shaping the Future of Construction: A Breakthrough in Mindset and Technology. Available online: http:\/\/www3.weforum.org\/docs\/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_Construction_full_report__.pdf."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"292","DOI":"10.1016\/j.proeng.2016.07.357","article-title":"3D Printing of Buildings and Building Components as the Future of Sustainable Construction?","volume":"151","author":"Hager","year":"2016","journal-title":"Procedia Eng."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2018.01.006","article-title":"Perspectives on a BIM-integrated software platform for robotic construction through Contour Crafting","volume":"89","author":"Davtalab","year":"2018","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"109","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2013.10.023","article-title":"Building Information Modeling (BIM) for existing buildings-Literature review and future needs","volume":"38","author":"Volk","year":"2014","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"8","article-title":"A critical review of 3D printing in construction: Benefits, challenges, and risks","volume":"20","author":"Romdhane","year":"2020","journal-title":"Arch. Civ. Mech. Eng."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1109\/EMR.2017.7888808","article-title":"Disruptions, decisions, and destinations: Enter the age of 3-D printing and additive manufacturing","volume":"45","author":"Kietzmann","year":"2017","journal-title":"IEEE Eng. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sanjayan, J.G., Nazari, A., and Nematollahi, B. (2019). 3D Concrete Printing Technology: Construction and Building Applications, Butterworth-Heinemann.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-815481-6.00001-4"},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"16","article-title":"Fused filament fabrication of fiber-reinforced polymers: A review","volume":"21","author":"Brenken","year":"2018","journal-title":"Addit. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Guenther, D. (2015). 3D printing\u2013The state of the technology and the future of this process. Detail\u2013Technol., 596\u2013600."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1108\/CI-10-2019-0103","article-title":"Criteria development for sustainable construction manufacturing in Construction Industry 4.0","volume":"20","author":"Tahmasebinia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Constr. Innov."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compstruct.2015.08.079","article-title":"Mechanical behavior of FRP sheets reinforced 3D Elements printed with cementitious materials","volume":"134","author":"Feng","year":"2015","journal-title":"Compos. Struct."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2006.05.002","article-title":"Freeform Construction: Mega scale rapid manufacturing for construction","volume":"16","author":"Buswell","year":"2007","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"World Economic Forum (2019, December 15). Winsun: Demonstrating the Viability of 3D Printing at the Construction Scale. Available online: https:\/\/futureofconstruction.org\/case\/winsun\/."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2016.04.005","article-title":"A critical review of the use of 3-D printing in the construction industry","volume":"68","author":"Wu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Garc\u00eda-Alvarado, R., Moroni-Orellana, G., and Banda-P\u00e9rez, P. (2021). Architectural Evaluation of 3D Printed Buildings. Buildings, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings11060254"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2017.12.031","article-title":"Applications of additive manufacturing in the construction industry\u2013A forward-looking review","volume":"89","author":"Clayton","year":"2018","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2018.05.005","article-title":"Additive manufacturing technology and its implementation in construction as an eco-innovative solution","volume":"93","author":"Ghaffar","year":"2018","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Hoek, M. (2022, November 18). Why 3D Printing is Key to Sustainable Business\u2013Association of MBAs. Association of MBAs. Available online: https:\/\/www.associationofmbas.com\/why-3d-printing-is-key-to-sustainable-business\/."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2016.08.026","article-title":"Additive construction: State-of-the art, challenges and opportunities","volume":"72","author":"Labonnote","year":"2016","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1016\/j.autcon.2011.06.010","article-title":"Developments in construction-scale additive manufacturing processes","volume":"21","author":"Lim","year":"2012","journal-title":"Autom. Constr."},{"key":"ref_37","first-page":"49","article-title":"A Review on 3D Printing of Concrete-The Future of Sustainable Construction","volume":"7","year":"2017","journal-title":"I-Manag. J. Civ. Eng."},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"1","article-title":"Three-dimensional printing in the construction industry: A review","volume":"15","author":"Perkins","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Constr. Manag."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1016\/j.acme.2017.02.008","article-title":"Fresh and hardened properties of 3D printable cementitious materials for building and construction","volume":"18","author":"Paul","year":"2018","journal-title":"Arch. Civ. Mech. Eng."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cemconres.2018.02.001","article-title":"Early age mechanical behaviour of 3D printed concrete: Numerical modelling and experimental testing","volume":"106","author":"Wolfs","year":"2018","journal-title":"Cem. Concr. Res."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1589","DOI":"10.1002\/nme.5570","article-title":"The Discontinuity-Enriched Finite Element Method","volume":"112","author":"Simone","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. Numer. Methods Eng."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Strand7-Overview (2022, November 20). Strand7-Finite Element Analysis. Available online: https:\/\/www.strand7.com\/html\/brochure.htm."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"702","DOI":"10.1016\/j.egypro.2017.09.562","article-title":"3D Printing of Buildings: Construction of the Sustainable Houses of The Future by BIM","volume":"134","author":"Sakin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Energy Procedia"},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Madeleine, P. (2022, November 24). What Do We Know About the First 3D-Printed House Inaugurated in Germany?-3Dnatives. 3Dnatives. 5 August 2021. Available online: https:\/\/www.3dnatives.com\/en\/insights-into-germanys-first-3d-printed-house-050820214\/#!."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Hughes, T.J.R. (2012). The Finite Element Method: Linear Static and Dynamic Finite Element Analysis, Dover Publications."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"B45","DOI":"10.1115\/1.1470670","article-title":"Encyclopedia of Vibration: Volumes 1, 2, and 3","volume":"55","author":"Braun","year":"2002","journal-title":"Appl. Mech. Rev."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.2478\/cons-2013-0005","article-title":"Experimental Determination of Natural Frequencies of Prestressed Suspension Bridge Model","volume":"14","author":"Goremikins","year":"2013","journal-title":"Constr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"(2022, November 16). Strand7 Solvers-Natural Frequency. Strand7-Finite Element Analysis. Available online: https:\/\/www.strand7.com\/html\/naturalfrequency\/."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"(2007). Structural Design Actions, Part 4: Earthquake actions in Australia (Standard No. AS 1170.4)."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"(2022, November 16). Strand7 Solvers-Spectral Response. Strand7-Finite Element Analysis. Available online: https:\/\/www.strand7.com\/html\/spectralresponse\/."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"(2022, November 21). Strand7 Solvers-Heat. Strand7-Finite Element Analysis. Available online: https:\/\/www.strand7.com\/html\/steadystateheat\/."},{"key":"ref_52","unstructured":"(2002). Structural Design Actions\u2014Permanent, Imposed and Other Actions (Standard No. AS\/NZS 1170.1)."},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"(2021). Structural Design Actions Wind actions (Standard No. AS\/NZS 1170.2)."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"(2018). Concrete Structures (Standard No. AS 3600.3)."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"(2002). Materials for the Thermal Insulation of Buildings\u2014General Criteria and Technical Provisions (Standard No. AS\/NZS 4859.1)."},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"(2002). Actions on Structures (Standard No. EN 1991)."},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"(2020). Steel Structures (Standard No. AS 4100)."},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"(2002). General Actions\u2014Densities, Self-Weight, Imposed Loads for Buildings (Standard No. EN 1991-1)."},{"key":"ref_59","unstructured":"(2004). General Rules, Seismic Actions and Rules for Buildings (Standard No. EN 1998-1)."},{"key":"ref_60","unstructured":"Daniela, S. (2022, November 17). Re: In Finite Element Analysis Verification and Validation with Field Tests, Universally What Is the Expected Percentage Fea Should Meet?. Available online: https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/post\/In_finite_element_analysis_verification_and_validation_with_field_tests_universally_what_is_the_expected_percentage_FEA_should_meet\/53fc5da6d039b129198b457c\/citation\/download."}],"container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3417\/13\/6\/3929\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T18:59:08Z","timestamp":1760122748000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3417\/13\/6\/3929"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,20]]},"references-count":60,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3]]}},"alternative-id":["app13063929"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/app13063929","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-3417"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-3417","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,20]]}}}