An experimental study on the effect of a Viscosity Modifying Agent on the rheological and strength behaviour of 3D Printed Concrete

Abstract

Automatic construction technologies have become the primary focus of the global construction sector. 3D printing is one of the disruptive technologies emerging from Industrial Revolution 4.0. 3D printing has grown increasingly popular in concrete construction due to its architectural freedom, speed, formwork-free printing, lesser waste creation, eco-friendliness, affordability, and safety. There were issues with the printing process when manufacturing 3D-Printed Concrete (3DPC) mixes, such as poor extrusion and buildability issues. This study investigates the use of Viscosity Modifying Agents (VMAs) in 3DPC to improve printability as well as structural integrity. VMAs, known for their capacity to change the rheological properties of concrete mixtures, are used selectively to optimise the material’s flow behaviour throughout the 3D printing process. The study compares the effect of VMA concentrations on the workability and buildability properties of 3DPC mixtures. Comparative examinations of VMA-enhanced and traditional 3DPC specimens indicate that an optimised VMA dose improves structural performance. The findings of this study hold significant relevance for the advancement of 3D printing technology in construction, offering a more nuanced understanding of the role of VMAs in optimising concrete mixtures for additive manufacturing.