Printability, Mechanical, and Shrinkage Properties of 3D Printing Internally-Cured Ultra-High Performance Concrete (2026-03)¶

10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106580

Liu Yalin, Fan Weichen, Li Chengze, Wei Ya, Lin Hongwei
Journal Article - Cement and Concrete Composites, No. 106580

Abstract

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) enables the development of 3D printed (3DP) structures towards high-rise, large-scale and complex forms. However, the high shrinkage cracking risk of UHPC is a major challenge. Herein, porous calcined bauxite (CB) aggregate was adopted as internal curing agent to develop 3D printable low-shrinkage UHPC. Then the printability, mechanical behavior, shrinkage property (autogenous and drying shrinkage), shrinkage cracking risk of the 3DP-UHPCs were systematically investigated, the material variables include CB aggregate (with or without) and different steel fiber dosage (1%, 1.5%). Results show that at 28 d, the 3DP-UHPC with CB aggregate has 29.4%%, 46.2%, and 28.8% higher compressive strength, and 14.0%, 93.8%, and 10.1% higher flexural strength at the X, Y, and Z direction loading, respectively, compared to normal 3DP-UHPC. Additionally, use of CB aggregate in 3DP-UHPC enables significant shrinkage reduction (28-day total shrinkage: 71 μm/m vs. 420 μm/m in conventional 3DP-UHPC). Restrained shrinkage tests confirm zero cracking in 3DP-UHPC with CB, contrasting with multiple cracks in conventional 3DP-UHPC. Higher steel fiber dosage further enhances crack resistance despite gives negligible shrinkage strain reduction.

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BibTeX

@article{liu_fan_li_wei.2026.PMaSPo3PICUHPC,
  author            = "Yalin Liu and Weichen Fan and Chengze Li and Ya Wei and Hongwei Lin",
  title             = "Printability, Mechanical, and Shrinkage Properties of 3D Printing Internally-Cured Ultra-High Performance Concrete",
  doi               = "10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106580",
  year              = "2026",
  journal           = "Cement and Concrete Composites",
  pages             = "106580",
}

Formatted Citation

IEEE

Y. Liu, W. Fan, C. Li, Y. Wei and H. Lin, “Printability, Mechanical, and Shrinkage Properties of 3D Printing Internally-Cured Ultra-High Performance Concrete”, Cement and Concrete Composites, p. 106580, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106580.

CMOS

Liu, Yalin, Weichen Fan, Chengze Li, Ya Wei, and Hongwei Lin. “Printability, Mechanical, and Shrinkage Properties of 3D Printing Internally-Cured Ultra-High Performance Concrete”. Cement and Concrete Composites, 2026, 106580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2026.106580.