Biology Serves as Inspiration for 3D-printed Concrete

Brief 

Researchers at RMIT University took inspiration from the unique Bouligand structure found in dactyl appendages of mantis shrimp and 3D-printed samples with a helicoidal pattern to study the impact strength. The study found that the 3D-printed concrete samples with steel fibers for reinforcement showed greater impact strength.

Insight

A new breakthrough in the journal Additive Manufacturing shows a concrete specimen that was inspired by Bouligand hierarchal architectures to develop 3D concrete printing. During drop weight impact testing, the impact performance of 3D-printed concrete specimens either with or without steel fibers was evaluated.

Extrusion-based 3D printing technology study on mechanical characteristics has been focused on static behavior, with little emphasis on dynamic responses.

A Popular 3D Concrete Painting

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP), also known as additive manufacturing (AM) of concrete, has gained popularity in the constructions industry in recent years. In comparison to traditional molded casting, the extrusion-based 3DCP employs a layer-by-layer deposition method, allowing for the manufacturing of concrete structures with complicated geometry, reduced reliance on labor personnel, and an increase in construction productivity.

Nevertheless, the quick growth of 3DCP is preceded by some limitations, such as directional effects on the mechanical characteristics of 3D-printed concrete samples, then further known as mechanical anisotropy, the complexity of achieving effective in-process reinforcement implementation during the printing process, and a scarcity of experienced workers capable of integrating civil and robotic work.

Biomimicry in the AM business is becoming more popular, equivalent to mathematics topology optimization, because learning from nature’s organisms may improve the physical properties and characteristics of things while also optimizing the material layout.

The notion of bioinspired architecture has recently been applied to the designing and development stages of 3DCP, where the mechanical and structural qualities of 3D-printed concrete items can be improved while material usage is decreased.