In exemplary implementations of this invention, a nozzle sprays foam, layer by layer, to fabricate a fabricated object according to a CAD model, and a subtractive fabrication tool removes material from the fabricated object according to a CAD model. The fabricated object comprises a mold or an interior form. The foam may be low-density, high strength and fast-curing. The foam may be used for large-scale 3D printing. For example, the foam may be used to 3D print molds for walls of homes. The foam molds may be left in place, after casting concrete in the molds, to serve as insulation. Or for example, the foam may be used to 3D print on site an internal form for a large wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade may then be produced on site by depositing fiberglass on the outside of the internal form.

A precast concrete panel and method for forming the panel are disclosed. A method of forming the panel to be used as a floor, wall, or roof structure includes positioning one or more forming members within a casting bed having a plurality of upright surfaces defining a generally rectangular interior area, the one or more forming members comprising an insulating material extending along a length dimension of the one or more forming members to define a plurality of rectangular-shaped channels in a parallel and spaced-apart relationship, placing uncured concrete within the casting bed and allowing the concrete to cover the one or more forming members and substantially fill the channels, and allowing the concrete to cure.

Pre-stressed insulated concrete panels are disclosed. Methods of making and using pre-stressed insulated concrete panels are also disclosed.

A precast composite wall structure and method for forming the wall structure are disclosed. The method includes providing a casting bed defining a plurality of shapes corresponding to a three-dimensional outer surface of a wall structure, placing a first layer of uncured concrete to conform to the shapes defined by the lower surface, positioning a forming member in overlying relation above the frame, the forming member defining a plurality of rectangular-shaped channels therebetween, positioning a stud frame within the casting bed along the forming member, placing a second layer of uncured concrete within the casting bed to conform to the rectangular-shaped channels between the rectangular protrusions, and allowing the concrete to cure.

Method for bonding by wrapping a medium which is capable of expanding transversely to a winding with an adhesive tape, in which: an adhesive tape is unrolled from an adhesive tape roll, the unrolled adhesive tape is provided on one side of a carrier film (1) with an adhesive cement layer (2) and on an opposite side with a separating agent layer (3), the separating agent layer (3) is subjected to a plasma treatment, the plasma-treated adhesive tape is wound around the medium which is capable of expanding transversely to a winding, so that at least a portion of the adhesive tape is bonded to a lower winding ply by the adhesive cement layer (2).

The present disclosure relates to an exterior wall for tilt-up construction comprising: (a) a fascia wythe; (b) a structural wythe; (c) a layer of insulating material disposed between the fascia wythe and the structural wythe; and (d) a thermal break in contact with at least the structural wythe, the thermal break comprising an elongate body comprising one or more thermal insulating materials, a first surface suitable for mounting a fixture, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first contacting surface, and a second contacting surface opposite the first contacting surface, the first contacting surface and the second contacting surface extending between the first surface and the second surface. The elongate body is substantially made of a non-wood material, and the structural wythe contacts at least a portion of the second contacting surface. The present disclosure further relates to methods of constructing an exterior wall comprising a thermal break.

A method for forming insulated concrete wall panels includes the step of positioning a stud wall frame in a casting bed, positioning a support panel formed from a single, monolithic section of foam insulating material on the wall frame with grooves formed in a first face therein on the stud wall frame with the grooves facing away from the wall frame and then pouring concrete in the casting bed over and around the first face of the support panel to form a layer of concrete with portions of the concrete extending into the grooves in the support panel. The concrete is allowed to cure and the wall structure is then removed from the casting bed.

A structural insulated panel includes a core of thermally insulating material having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first skin coupled to the first side of the core, and a second skin coupled to the second side of the core. The first skin, the second skin, or both the first and second skins may include a sheet of reinforced concrete material. Each sheet of reinforced concrete material may include calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement and a reinforcing material disposed in at least a portion of the CSA cement.

A method of making a structural insulated panel includes providing a core of thermally insulating material having a first side and a second side, mixing a concrete material comprising calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement and reinforcing material, and applying a first skin of the concrete material while wet onto the first side of the core. The first skin is allowed to at least partially cure, thereby bonding the first skin to the first side of the core without a separate adhesive or binder apart from the concrete material. A second skin of the concrete material may be applied while wet onto the second side of the core, and the second skin may be allowed to at least partially cure, thereby bonding the second skin to the second side of the core without a separate adhesive or binder apart from the concrete material.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, a nozzle sprays foam, layer by layer, to fabricate a fabricated object according to a CAD model, and a subtractive fabrication tool removes material from the fabricated object according to a CAD model. The fabricated object comprises a mold or an interior form. The foam may be low-density, high strength and fast-curing. The foam may be used for large-scale 3D printing. For example, the foam may be used to 3D print molds for walls of homes. The foam molds may be left in place, after casting concrete in the molds, to serve as insulation. Or for example, the foam may be used to 3D print on site an internal form for a large wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade may then be produced on site by depositing fiberglass on the outside of the internal form.