Structural behaviour of 3D printed concrete beams with various reinforcement strategies

• 3D concrete printing and structural testing of nine reinforced beams. Aligned interlayer fibres steel cables as shear reinforcement. Full-field digital image correlation precise analysis crack kinematics. Development a mechanical model for reinforcement in printed (3DCP) offers many new possibilities. This technology could increase the productivity construction industry reduce its environmental impact by producing optimised structures more efficiently. Despite significant developments materials science, little effort has been put developing strategies compatible with 3DCP on characterisation their behaviour. Consequently, 3DCD still lacks compliance integrity requirements. study presents an experimental investigation consisting four-point bending tests extrusion beams various types As reinforcement, aligned end-hook (0.3 0.6%) or (0.1%) placed between layers were used. longitudinal unbonded post-tensioning conventional bonded passive explored. The patterns associated kinematics tracked using correlation. results show that post-tensioned failed brittle manner due to crushing bending, deformations localised few cracks. In both well cracks generated, failure limited ultimate load. Estimations based measured carried most applied force. Based these results, simple is developed understand behaviour pre-design required amount