People

Research Associates & Assistant

Abhimanyu Goel

Title

Research Associate

Degree

Masters of Sustainable Design and Architecture

Research Interests

Low-carbon construction materials: Developing carbon-sequestering cementitious composites using biochar and agricultural waste. Additive manufacturing for infrastructure: Applying 3D printing and advanced geometries to create efficient, low-impact building components. Nature-inspired and circular design: Translating biological and shellular structures into scalable solutions that enhance sustainability in the built environment.

Office Location

Construction 3D Printing Programme, 2 Architecture Dr, Singapore 117566

Biography

Abhimanyu Goel is a Research Associate at the National University of Singapore whose work bridges architecture, materials science, and circular design. A graduate of NUS’s Masters of Integrated Sustainable Design (2015), he focuses on transforming biomass and industrial waste into high-performance construction materials for low-carbon, resilient cities. He leads projects valorising rice husk, sawdust, and biochar through advanced fabrication and concrete additive manufacturing, integrating experimental material development, life-cycle thinking, and 3D printing to embed carbon sequestration in architectural systems. In collaboration with Nobel Laureate Prof. Konstantin Novoselov, he developed graphene and biochar enhanced concrete structures inspired by natural microstructures; these were showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 and Singapore Design Week 2025. Under CREATE E2S2 (2019–2022), he advanced biochar concrete and low-carbon mix designs, cited by the Prime Minister’s Office (NRF) in 2021 among top sustainability research. He partnered with Gardens by the Bay to repurpose biochar into non-structural and façade-grade composites, championing design-led science for urban regeneration.

Selected Publications

  • H. Wang, Y. Wan, S. Owyong, E.T. Connie Lim, A. Goel, A. Shi, Z. Lu, T.H. Nguyen,
    H.W. Kua, S. Shin, A. Lin, Towards low-carbon construction: Nature-inspired internal patterns for thermal
    insulation in lightweight concrete component cast using 3D-printed formwork, Energy & Buildings (2026), doi:
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.116944
  • Kua, Harn Wei; Goel, Abhimanyu; Teo, Junhao Jeremy
    Carbon mineralization, microstructure development and mechanical properties of limestone calcined clay cement enhanced with rice husk ash and biochar (bio-LC3), CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, (accepted 2025), ISSN: 0950-0618.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652625014416
  • Mhaya, Akram M; Shahidan, Shahiron; Goel, Abhimanyu; Huseien, Ghasan Fahim
    Effect of metakaolin content and shape design on strength performance of lightweight rubberized geopolymer mortars incorporated slag-waste glass powders, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, 432 (136500), 136500, 2024, ISSN: 0950-0618.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0950061824016416
  • Kua, Harn Wei; Goel, Abhimanyu; Teo, Junhao Jeremy
    Bio-LC3 – Effect of biochar, rice husk ash and coated sawdust on LC3, SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING SUMMIT, 15 (77), 258-259, 2024, ISSN: 2291-1227.
    https://www.flogen.org/sips2024/paper-15-457.html
  • Kua, Harn Wei; Goel, Abhimanyu
    Improving strength, setting time and workability of limestone calcined clay cementitious mortar with cement-replacing biochar – making “green” binder even “greener”, SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING SUMMIT, 15 (77), 256-257, 2024, ISSN: 2291-1227.
  • Kua, Harn Wei; Teo, Jeremy Jun Hao; Goel, Abhimanyu
    Effects of biochar and accelerated carbonation on the microstructure, mechanical properties, carbon capture of limestone calcined clay concrete, SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING SUMMIT, 12 (9), 63-64, 2023, ISSN: 2291-1227.
  • Lin, Alexander; Goel, Abhimanyu; Wong, De Hui Alwin; Yeo, Charlene Tiam Weng Mark; Chung, Jacky; Pang, Sze Dai; Wang, Chi-Hwa; Taylor, Hayden; Kua, Harn Wei
    Compressive load-dominated concrete structures for customized 3D-printing fabrication, AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION, 141 (104467), 104467, 2022, ISSN: 0926-5805.
  • Lin, Alexander; Goel, Abhimanyu; Wong, De Hui Alwin; Yeo, Charlene Tiam Weng Mark; Chung, Jacky; Pang, Sze Dai; Taylor, Hayden; Kua, Harn Wei
    Sustainability and 3D concrete printing: identifying a need for a more holistic approach to assessing environmental impacts, AUTOMATION IN CONSTRUCTION, 141 (104467), 104467, 2022, ISSN: 0926-5805.
  • Arora, Srishti; Jung, Janelle; Liu, Ming; Li, Xian; Goel, Abhimanyu; Chen, Jialing; Song, Shuang; Anderson, Carly; Chen, Dexiang; Leong, Ken; Lim, Song Hau; Fong, Siew Lee; Ghosh, Subhadip; Lin, Alexander; Kua, Harn Wei; Tan, Hugh T.W.; Dai, Yanjun; Wang, Chi-Hwa
    Gasification biochar from horticultural waste: an exemplar of the circular economy in Singapore, SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 781 (0), 146573, 2021, ISSN: 0048-9697.
  • Liu, J.; Goel, A.; Kua, H. W.; Wang, C.H.; Peng, Y.H. Evaluating the urban metabolism sustainability of municipal solid waste management system: An extended exergy accounting and indexing perspective, APPLIED ENERGY, 300, (117254), 117254, 2021, ISSN: 0306-2619, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117254.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261921006747″