Structural Evaluation of Shotcrete 3D Printing and Robotic Fiber Winding for Thin-Shell Elements (2024-08)¶

In this research, the potential of Shotcrete 3D Printing (SC3DP) combined with Robotic Fiber Winding (RFW) is explored for producing reinforced thin, flat concrete components. SC3DP offers enhanced concrete embedding, especially when creating uniform, thin surfaces, while RFW allows for the robotic integration of reinforcement within the same manufacturing process. Experiments are conducted to fabricate thin shell-like elements using these techniques, followed by structural testing through fourpoint bending tests to evaluate their mechanical performance against conventionally casted specimens. Incorporating Green State Post Processing and CNC milling enhances geometric accuracy and surface quality of the produced specimens, which shows well embedded fiber reinforcement. The bending test results suggests that material use could be further optimized, what could lead to structurally sufficient components with less concrete and reinforcement. These findings underscore the efficiency and potential of the symbiosis of SC3DP and RFW in producing complex, shell-like geometries, paving the way for more sustainable and innovative construction practices.