Granular Materials for 3D Printing of Construction Components and Structures (2024-07)¶

Extensive research on 3D printing with granular materials has predominantly focused on discrete aspects of the process, such as material properties, printing technology, or component types. This paper advances the field by adopting an integrative approach, investigating a range of granular materials, and employing generic design procedures based on rheological concepts. The objective is to establish relationships between material properties, printing technology, and component types to optimize performance and minimize material usage. An experimental program was conducted, printing clay-based and cementitious materials to characterize their early-age and mature properties and develop generic design procedures. The findings demonstrate that rheological principles can underpin design strategies, harmonizing printing parameters, material properties, and component geometry, ensuring effective printing and material efficiency. These principles provide a foundation for further optimizing the printing process and materials design by investigating the effects of mix composition, especially the binder composition and fillers, to control thixotropy development.