A study reported on November 6, 2026, in the Journal of Building Engineering described a 3-meter fabric-molded concrete beam built by MIT engineers as a proof of concept. The team said the optimized beam used about one-third as much concrete and half as much steel reinforcement as a conventional beam designed to carry the same weight. When load-tested to about 30 percent of its design load, the center deflection was within about 2 percent of the computer model's prediction.

The design combined near-instant graphic statics for shaping the steel reinforcement with slower topology optimization for placing concrete. An automated process translated the 3D design into flat fabric pieces; three molds with 36, 56 and 76 pieces were tested, and the 56-piece version was judged the best balance. A moderately wet, sand-rich mix was packed by hand through the narrow legs and thin bottom section.

A location-dependent cost comparison found all three fabric versions were about 10 to 20 percent cheaper in the Global South, but about 16 to 55 percent more expensive in the Global North. The researchers said fabric formwork appears most promising for custom or small-batch components, and that the next step would be to test multiple beams to failure. Larger beams would need new designs.