3D CONCRETE PRINTABILITY WITH METAKAOLIN AND SILICA FUME IN HOLLOW BEAMS

Abstract

3D printing technology has witnessed a great development in recent years, making it one of the most prominent technologies used in various industrial fields. Its applications have been extended to many sectors, such as the medical field in the manufacture of prostheses, the jewellery industry and the precision industries. Civil engineering is one of the most prominent sectors that has begun to rely increasingly on this technology, especially in construction and the production of structural elements. 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is an innovative alternative to traditional construction methods as it offers many advantages, most notably reduced material waste, lower labour costs, faster project implementation and greater architectural freedom. The technology also allows the implementation of structural elements with complex internal hollow shapes, which improves structural performance and increases the efficiency of material use. In this context, this study focused on the printing of three hollow geometries using two different concrete mixes. Initial tests were conducted on the two mixes to assess their viscosity and how smoothly they could flow out of the printer nozzle without interruption. After printing, the samples were carefully examined to study the cohesion of the layers, measure their height and evaluate the printability of the mix to understand better the influence of mix properties on the quality and structural stability of the printed objects

Keywords

• 3d Printing
• Properties of Printable Concrete
• Concrete Mix Design
• Manufacturing in Construction
• Hollow Concrete Beam.

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