Solid Construction

The current challenges in masonry construction are pressing: high resource consumption, raw material shortages, rising procurement costs, AI and digitalization, and a shortage of skilled workers. To address these issues, researchers at the TTZ Aichach are collaborating with construction and trades companies to develop innovative solutions.

Concrete construction and production account for a significant portion of resource consumption and global greenhouse gas emissions. Cement alone, for example, accounts for approximately 7–8 percent of global CO₂ emissions. With approximately 12 billion m³ produced annually, concrete is the most widely produced material in the world and is virtually impossible to substitute, both technically and economically. Locally—including in southern Germany—raw materials such as sand and gravel are already in short supply and must be transported over long distances. 

Another problem is steel reinforcement, which, while economical (in the short term), shortens the service life of structures due to its susceptibility to corrosion. Consequently, solid construction offers enormous potential for reducing resource use and emissions.

At the TTZ Aichach, research and development projects conducted by the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences—in close cooperation with interested companies—are focused on developing alternative materials for reinforcement and binders, as well as production methods such as additive manufacturing.