3DPARE

3DPare was developed by marine scientists in the Faculty of Science & Tecnology into an EU Interreg project to design an innovative artificial reefs for the sustainable management of the marine ecosystem of the Atlantic Area. Biodiversity oriented reefs were shaped by larger-scale 3D printing with focus on innovative designs, low-impact, resistant and bio-receptive materials and their behaviour in marine environment. The project is led by the University of Cantabria Department of Civil Engineering (Santander, Spain) who specialise in 3D Printing. The other main partners include Bournemouth University (Faculty of Science & Technology), CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Portugal), IPMA (Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere), ESITC Caen Institute for Civil Engineering and Construction (Caen, France).

There are four artificial reef designs and each design has been 3D printed in two different concrete mixes, creating a total of 8 reef units. All of the reef units contain holes, tunnels and overhangs- features which provide suitable habitat for marine life. Sustainable geopolymer mortar and cement mortar mixes have been developed by GITECCO (UC) and ESITC used to print the artificial reefs.

Local: Spain, Portugal, France and UK.
Year: 2019
AM Technology: Extrusion
Material: Geopolymers

Link of the original project