Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University is collaborating with international partners to develop sustainable shelters for Ukrainian refugees using innovative 3D printing techniques. The project aims to utilize recycled concrete and other waste materials, leveraging resources available in the United States, Poland, and Ukraine.

Professor Alexander Orlov from Stony Brook University's Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering leads the initiative. He stated, "This project has the potential to develop exciting breakthroughs on how to turn construction waste into a sustainable solution for the $2 trillion per year US construction industry. It can also save countless lives of Ukrainian refugees who can benefit from rapid printing of shelters to house displaced families."

The research is supported by funding from the Office of Naval Research, United States National Science Foundation, and Polish National Science Centre. It involves collaboration between Stony Brook University in the United States, Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture in Ukraine, and Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology in Poland.

Stony Brook University's role includes assessing building material samples and developing 3D printing solutions to create flexible platforms for new materials that can be deployed in Ukraine.

These structures aim not only to provide shelter but also to be environmentally sustainable by reducing cement consumption. Cement production significantly contributes to global carbon dioxide emissions; therefore, using recycled concrete decreases both environmental impact and costs.

Marija Krstic, an assistant professor at Stony Brook's Department of Civil Engineering, highlighted the project's focus on sustainability: “This research will address challenges in building resilient and sustainable infrastructure by using novel, inexpensive, and energy efficient solutions.”

The 3D printing technique offers advantages over traditional construction methods by requiring less manual labor and speeding up the building process.

— Angelina Livigni