Non-linear behaviour under compression of hardened 3D-printed concrete

3D-printed concrete (3DPC) is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to offer rapid construction, flexibility in design, reduced labour and material costs, and eco-friendliness as it uses waste materials like plastics and resins. It is also ideal for remote location construction and opens numerous possibilities in the construction industry. However, the behaviour of 3D-printed concrete is apparently different from normal concrete due to specific printing parameters and equipment requirements, affecting mechanical strength properties. Therefore, it is essential to study the mechanical behaviour of hardened 3D-printed concrete to ensure its safe use for structural purposes.
This research focuses on the non-linear mechanical behaviour of 3D-printed concrete under axial compression, comparing it with conventionally cast concrete of identical material mix design. The study aims to comprehensively explore the behaviour of hardened 3D-printed concrete by subjecting specimens to controlled axial compression tests until failure. The experimental investigation employs a carefully designed set of tests, focusing on the stress-strain relationship, deformation characteristics, and failure modes of 3D-printed concrete under concentric axial compression load. The printed concrete is expected to show directional properties due to the presence of different types of interface layers, such as layers having the benefit of self-weight (vertical layer) and others having no benefit of self-weight (horizontal layers). So, to compare the directionality effects in printed concrete, cored cylindrical specimens are taken in three different directions and compared with the conventionally cast concrete.
The study aims to gain an understanding of the stress-strain parameters under compression loads in 3D printed concrete in comparison to conventional concrete and possible implications for structural design and finite element model-ling and analysis of 3DPC structures.