A TSP-Based Continuous Path-Planning for Additive Manufacturing of Concrete (2024-08)¶

The advent of additive manufacturing of concrete technology has emphasized the critical role of print path strategies in construction efficiency and part quality. However, most of the current print path solutions are inefficient and lack the adaptability to meet the scale and material challenges of concrete extrusion. In response, this research draws inspiration from travel salesman problem (TSP) and proposes continuous print path strategy for (solid) space-filling applications. Compared with control groups that focuses on non-continues print path, the proposed method provides better print quality, less sharp turns, and reduced anisotropic strength. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through generation, printing, and (experimental and numerical) evaluation of different planer design examples. Moreover, by leveraging on optimization techniques such as contour offset and boundary trim, the TSP print path effectively mitigates underfilling while ensuring structural integrity of the printed structures. The TSP print path is combined with a sharp turn removal technique to ensure continuous and smooth concrete deposition. An example of additively manufactured topology-optimized design is presented by combining with TSP print path at the end of this research, illustrating the applicability and scalability of the proposed method for efficient, cost-effective construction scale additive manufacturing.