Incorporating Reinforcement in 3D-Printing with Concrete (2018-04)¶

Digital concrete construction has recently become the subject of rapidly growing research activities around the world. Various technologies for 3D printing with concrete have been developed; the number of demonstration projects and practical applications has increased exponentially. The most common of these approaches focus on concrete as such, while the proposed solutions for the incorporation of reinforcement are still rudimentary and lag behind the concepts for printing with concrete. As the use of (steel) reinforcement is essential in most structural applications, it becomes urgent to advance the technology of reinforcement of 3D-printed components. This article provides a critical overview of the current state of research and development with regard to the use of reinforcement in digital concrete construction and evaluates various approaches for their compatibility with known concrete printing processes and existing regulations. When looking at steel reinforcement, it also discusses the process developed at TU Dresden for 3D printing of steel structures using gas metal arc welding. Furthermore, the possibilities and limitations of reinforcement using short fibers, yarns and textiles are shown.