Experimental Behavior of a 3D Printed Concrete Wall with Fixed Base Anchorage Subjected to In-Plane Cyclic Loads

The construction industry is experiencing a significant transformation with the advent of 3D printing technology, offering a broad spectrum of versatile applications. Particularly, 3D printing of concrete has emerged as a promising approach, revolutionizing traditional construction methods by enabling the efficient creation of intricate structures. This study investigatres the structural behavior of a 3D printed concrete wall through cyclic in-plane testing, focusing on a 3D printed wall made with 40% of internal void and incorporating prefabricated base anchorage (named P-BA3DW).. The cyclic tests were conducted to simulate in-service conditions, incorporating distributed vertical load to simulate overhead structural weight and cyclic horizontal loads to simulate seismic forces acting in-plane. The outcomes of the cyclic test were recorded in terms of force-displacement behavior with a focus on the wall's response during both push and pull stages. An in-depth analysis of crack patterns further elucidated the propagation mechanisms and underscored predominant bending failure modes and limited post-peak behavior due to possible rapid damage propagation through the weak interlayers.