Microstructural characterization of a 3D-printed soil

Transversal applications of 3D-printing (or Additive Manufacturing) have been recently implemented in the field Geomechanics. In a process, printed volume is obtained from successive layering adjacent soil filaments. this work, fabric an as-printed has carried out by combining Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) tests and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations, with aim to highlight how particle arrangements orientation shape pores are linked printing operation. The microstructural analyses showed that macropores result relative position filaments their initial distortion quasi-undrained conditions. Particle arrangement within filament strongly anisotropic, due rotative movement extruder.