Perspectives in architected infrastructure materials

Abstract

This paper presents perspectives and progress in the emerging field of architected infrastructure materials. Recent developments in advanced and additive manufacturing with construction materials have led to new capabilities to define, design, and shape the internal arrangement and overall morphology of materials. In contrast to conventional casting techniques used in the construction of civil engineering materials, such advancements have allowed for purposeful designs of materials into specific morphologies across scales, referred to as architected infrastructure materials. Contrary to monolithic construction materials, architected materials present new opportunities to engineer enhanced mechanical properties and unique performance characteristics in civil infrastructure components through design. Here, we present an overview of the field and the research gaps in design, manufacturing, and materials mechanics. An overview of a few design opportunities, including bio-inspired strategies is discussed. Current advancements in the field are presented focusing on cement-based, non-hydraulic, and cementitious composite architected materials. The existing studies on bouligand, cellular, lattice, auxetic, tabulated, and gradient architected construction materials and their mechanically advantageous characteristics are reviewed. The future directions and perspectives for the field are outlined with respect to the current research gaps and upcoming opportunities.