Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental and numerical evaluation of multi-directional compressive and flexure behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Structural and Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) can proliferate the industrialization of the construction sector, which is notoriously conservative and indolent toward changes. However, the mechanical behavior of 3DCP should be characterized and modeled considering the interfaces when its performance is thoroughly compared to that of the existing concrete construction methods. This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation of uniaxial compression and three-point bending (TPB) tests on extruded 3DCP beams in different loading directions. The orientation of translational and depositional interfaces with respect to the direction of loading influenced the strength. Both the elastic and post-damage behavior of the 3DCP specimens were compared with those of the conventionally cast specimen under quasi-static loading conditions. Despite the higher compressive strength of the casted specimen, the flexural strength of the 3DCP specimens was higher. This study employed the finite element and cohesive zone models of the appropriate calibrated traction-separation law to model fracture in the notched TPB specimens. Furthermore, the real-time acoustic emission test revealed the nature of failure phenomenon of three-dimensional-printed specimens under flexion, and accordingly, the cohesive law was chosen. The predicted load-displacement responses are in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, the effects of cohesive thickness and notch shape on the performance under bending were explored through parametric studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Labonnote N, Rønnquist A, Manum B, Rüther P. Additive construction: State-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities. Automation in Construction, 2016, 72: 347–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Buswell R A, Leal de Silva W R, Jones S Z, Dirrenberger J. 3D printing using concrete extrusion: A roadmap for research. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 112: 37–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Menna C, Mata-Falcón J, Bos F P, Vantyghem G, Ferrara L, Asprone D, Salet T, Kaufmann W. Opportunities and challenges for structural engineering of digitally fabricated concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 2020, 133: 106079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wu P, Wang J, Wang X. A critical review of the use of 3-D printing in the construction industry. Automation in Construction, 2016, 68: 21–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bos F, Wolfs R, Ahmed Z, Salet T. Additive manufacturing of concrete in construction: Potentials and challenges of 3D concrete printing. Virtual and Physical Prototyping, 2016, 11(3): 209–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. de Schutter G, Lesage K, Mechtcherine V, Nerella V N, Habert G, Agusti-Juan I. Vision of 3D printing with concrete—Technical, economic and environmental potentials. Cement and Concrete Research, 2018, 112: 25–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Feng P, Meng X, Chen J F, Ye L. Mechanical properties of structures 3D printed with cementitious powders. Construction & Building Materials, 2015, 93: 486–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ma G, Li Z, Wang L, Wang F, Sanjayan J. Mechanical anisotropy of aligned fiber reinforced composite for extrusion-based 3D printing. Construction & Building Materials, 2019, 202: 770–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Panda B, Paul S C, Mohamed N A N, Tay Y W D, Tan M J. Measurement of tensile bond strength of 3D printed geopolymer mortar. Measurement, 2018, 113: 108–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Meurer M, Classen M. Mechanical properties of hardened 3D printed concretes and mortars-development of a consistent experimental characterization strategy. Materials, 2021, 14(4): 1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu J, Li S, Fox K, Tran P. 3D concrete printing of bioinspired Bouligand structure: A study on impact resistance. Additive Manufacturing, 2022, 50: 102544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Le T T, Austin S A, Lim S, Buswell R A, Law R, Gibb A G F, Thorpe T. Hardened properties of high-performance printing concrete. Cement and Concrete Research, 2012, 42(3): 558–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Panda B, Chandra Paul S, Jen Tan M. Anisotropic mechanical performance of 3D printed fiber reinforced sustainable construction material. Materials Letters, 2017, 209: 146–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Nerella V N, Hempel S, Mechtcherine V. Effects of layer-interface properties on mechanical performance of concrete elements produced by extrusion-based 3D-printing. Construction & Building Materials, 2019, 205: 586–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Xiao J, Liu H, Ding T. Finite element analysis on the anisotropic behavior of 3D printed concrete under compression and flexure. Additive Manufacturing, 2021, 39: 101712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Paul S C, Tay Y W D, Panda B N, Tan M J. Fresh and hardened properties of 3D printable cementitious materials for building and construction. Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, 2018, 18(1): 311–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Panda B, Paul S C, Hui L J, Tay Y W D, Tan M J. Additive manufacturing of geopolymer for sustainable built environment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2017, 167: 281–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wolfs R J M, Bos F P, Salet T A M. Hardened properties of 3D printed concrete: The influence of process parameters on interlayer adhesion. Cement and Concrete Research, 2019, 119: 132–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lourenço P B, Rots J G, Blaauwendraad J. Continuum model for masonry: Parameter estimation and validation. Journal of Structural Engineering, 1998, 124(6): 642–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Mobasher B. M&S Highlight: Hillerborg (1985). The theoretical basis of a method to determine the fracture energy GF of concrete. Materials and Structures, 2022, 55(2): 56–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Nguyen-Van V, Li S, Liu J, Nguyen K, Tran P. Modeling of 3D concrete printing process: A perspective on material and structural simulations. Additive Manufacturing, 2023, 61: 103333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Jasim W A, Tahnat Y B A, Halahla A M. Behavior of reinforced concrete deep beam with web openings strengthened with (CFRP) sheet. Structures, 2020, 26: 785–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. van den Heever M, Bester F, Kruger J, van Zijl G. Mechanical characterisation for numerical simulation of extrusion-based 3D concrete printing. Journal of Building Engineering, 2021, 44: 102944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Yang J, Xia J, Zhang Z, Zou Y, Wang Z, Zhou J. Experimental and numerical investigations on the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete arches strengthened with UHPC subjected to asymmetric load. Structures, 2022, 39: 1158–1175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Peng Q, Wu H, Jia P C, Ma L L, Fang Q. Numerical studies on rebar-concrete interactions of RC members under impact and explosion. Structures, 2023, 47: 63–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Liu H, Egbe K J I, Wang H, Matin Nazar A, Jiao P, Zhu R. A numerical study on 3D printed cementitious composites mixes subjected to axial compression. Materials, 2021, 14(22): 6882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Bedon C, Rajcic V, Barbalic J, Perkovic N. CZM-based FE numerical study on pull-out performance of adhesive bonded-in-rod (BiR) joints for timber structures. Structures, 2022, 46: 471–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Anas S M, Alam M, Umair M. Experimental and numerical investigations on performance of reinforced concrete slabs under explosive-induced air-blast loading: A state-of-the-art review. Structures, 2021, 31: 428–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Nguyen-Van V, Liu J, Li S, Zhang G, Nguyen-Xuan H, Tran P. Modeling of 3D-printed bio-inspired Bouligand cementitious structures reinforced with steel fibers. Engineering Structures, 2023, 274: 115123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Nguyen-Van V, Liu J, Peng C, Zhang G, Nguyen-Xuan H, Tran P. Dynamic responses of bioinspired plastic-reinforced cementitious beams. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2022, 133: 104682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. ASTM C109. Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 50mm Cube Specimens). West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM, 2010

    Google Scholar 

  32. ASTM C880. Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM, 1999, 98–100

    Google Scholar 

  33. Mahmoud K S. Design of concrete Structures According to ACI 318M-14 Third Stage, 2016

  34. Gonçalves R, Giacon Júnior M, Lopes I M. Determining the concrete stiffness matrix through ultrasonic testing. Engenharia Agrícola, 2011, 31(3): 427–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. MISTRAS Group Inc.—Products & Systems Division. USB-AE Node & AEwin for USB Software User’s Manual. Princeton Junction: MISTRAS Group Inc., 2010

  36. Sanjayan J G, Nematollahi B, Xia M, Marchment T. Effect of surface moisture on inter-layer strength of 3D printed concrete. Construction & Building Materials, 2018, 172: 468–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yang L, Liu G, Chen Y, Yu S, Du H. Hardened properties and durability of large-scale 3D printed cement-based materials. Materials and Structures, 2021, 54(1): 45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Bachir Bouiadjra B, Achour T, Berrahou M, Ouinas D, Feaugas X. Numerical estimation of the mass gain between double symmetric and single bonded composite repairs in aircraft structures. Materials & Design, 2010, 31(6): 3073–3077

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Odi R A, Friend C M. An improved 2D model for bonded composite joints. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2004, 24(5): 389–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Feih S, Shercliff H R. Adhesive and composite failure prediction of single-L joint structures under tensile loading. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2005, 25(1): 47–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Magalhães A G, de Moura M F S F, Gonçalves J P M. Evaluation of stress concentration effects in single-lap bonded joints of laminate composite materials. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2005, 25(4): 313–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Jin Z H, Sun C T. A comparison of cohesive zone modeling and classical fracture mechanics based on near tip stress field. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2006, 43(5): 1047–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Schellekens J C J, de Borst R. A non-linear finite element approach for the analysis of mode-I free edge delamination in composites. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 1993, 30(9): 1239–1253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. de Moura M F S F, Gonçalves J P M, Magalhães A G. A straightforward method to obtain the cohesive laws of bonded joints under mode I loading. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 2012, 39: 54–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. de Moura M F S F, Campilho R D S G, Gonçalves J P M. Crack equivalent concept applied to the fracture characterization of bonded joints under pure mode I loading. Composites Science and Technology, 2008, 68(10–11): 2224–2230

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board, India, under the scheme “Early Career Research Award (No. ECR/2018/001638)”, DST-SERB and VSSC, and ISRO of the project titled “Functionality Enhancement Through Design and Development of Advanced Finite Element Algorithms for STR Tools” under the IMPRINT.IIC (IMP/2019/000276) scheme. The authors acknowledge the Smart Materials and Structure Laboratory for facilitating the AE sensor test and DST-FIST funded facility, SHIMADZU AGS-X 100-kN universal testing machine, at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. Biranchi Panda would like to thank the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India, for the start-up grant (No. SRG/2021/000052).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Lalit Kumar, Dhrutiman Dey, Biranchi Panda & Nelson Muthu

Authors
  1. Lalit Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dhrutiman Dey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Biranchi Panda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nelson Muthu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nelson Muthu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendices for

11709_2023_4_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Experimental and numerical evaluation of multi-directional compressive and flexure behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, L., Dey, D., Panda, B. et al. Experimental and numerical evaluation of multi-directional compressive and flexure behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng. 17, 1643–1661 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-023-0004-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-023-0004-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation