A Rapid Reinforcement-Technique Using FRP and Steel-Wire Mesh in 3D Printed ECC Beams (2024-11)¶

3D concrete printing is a potential technology for increasing automation and introducing digital fabrication in the construction industry. Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC), due to its strain- hardening and multiple cracking capability, have been proven as excellent materials for the construction of unreinforced structures and have emerged as a promising material for 3D printing. However, the difficulty on reinforcing integration and limited flexural strength of unreinforced ECC structures obstruct 3DP-ECC materials to shift towards a large-scale construction technology paradigm. This study innovated a method for rapid arrangement of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) meshes and steel wire meshes at the interlayer interface of 3DP-ECC beams in the synchronous printing process. The effect of mesh specification, ECCs with different strain capacity on the mechanical behavior of reinforced 3DP-ECC beams were investigated by tests. Experimental results demonstrated that contrast to FRP mesh, steel wire meshes could deform collaboratively better with ECC. The load bearing capacity of 3DP-ECC beams reinforced with FRP meshes and steel wire meshes were 1.22~2.01 times and 1.98~3.17 times that of the unreinforced beam, respectively. Furthermore, a series of parameter analyses were conducted by numerical simulation, including printing interface strength, mesh material properties, toughening measures, etc. The technique accommodated the automatic characteristics of additive manufacturing processes and satisfied the requirements of mechanical properties for construction applications. The study validated the feasibility and effectiveness of FRP mesh and steel wire mesh to reinforce 3D printed ECC beams.