Digital Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of 3D-printing Concrete

Abstract

3d printed concrete technology is a hot research topic in the field of architecture. Printed by layers, the concrete could be stacked accurately in the shape which is digitally designed on computer programs. However, the conventional cement mortar is not suitable for 3D-printing, Because that its aggregate ingredients may cause the cracks in the process of printing. Moreover, the buildability and rheological properties of conventional mortar cannot reach the requirements of 3D-ptinting concrete technology. Ultra-high performance concrete is a developing category of material used in concrete structures and it is considered to be one of the most appropriate printing materials. As the popularization of computer technology, it is a necessary task to research on the digital construction way of concrete structures. And 3D-printing concrete technology combines the popular topics above together. This study mainly introduces the fabrication process of ultra-high performance concrete and digital printing process of 3D-printing concrete, and the mechanical properties of printed specimens are studied by the experimental results.