| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
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REWAS 2025: Sustainable Practices in Strategic and Critical Raw Materials: Exploring Supply Chain Resilience and Recycling Innovations
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| Presentation Title |
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Novel Steel Section Design with Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing |
| Author(s) |
Lidiana Arrč, Emanuele Pagone, Vittoria Laghi, Filomeno Martina, Michele Palermo |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Emanuele Pagone |
| Abstract Scope |
Additive manufacturing, particularly Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), is emerging as a promising technology in the construction sector due to its potential to reduce environmental impacts. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a crucial methodology for evaluating the environmental footprint of products and processes, that can be carried out from raw material extraction to the end of production, commonly referred to as “cradle-to-gate” analysis. This study focuses on the environmental impact of 3D-printed steel elements using WAAM technology for construction applications. Specifically, the conventional production of Circular Hollow Section (CHS) steel components was compared with the innovative production of Tubular Sandwich Section (TSS) steel components using WAAM. The analysis provides a comparison of the carbon footprint associated to both production methods, highlighting in detail the emissions factors associated with each step of the WAAM production. The results highlighted that WAAM not only offers design and structural benefits to build complex-shaped geometries but also contributes to more sustainable construction practices with a lower “cradle-to-gate” carbon footprint due to the reduced material consumption associated with material efficiency. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Sustainability, Iron and Steel |