Design of Earthquake-Resistant 3D Printed Concrete Wall Based on ACI 318-19 (2025-06)¶

Designing earthquake-resistant 3D printed concrete (3DPC) walls presents critical challenges, particularly due to the absence of codal provisions specific to 3DPC structures. The current American Concrete Institute (ACI) 318 standard, catering to conventional reinforced concrete (RC) and precast systems, fundamentally differs from 3DPC structures in terms of material behavior, construction methods, and reinforcement integration. Based on this need, this study investigates the applicability of ACI 318–19 in conjunction with Eurocode 8 provisions to 3DPC, while focusing on practical strategies for integration of reinforcement within hollow 3DPC walls. The study specifically examines two reinforcement configurations—single-layer and double-layer setups—selected for their practical implications in 3DPC construction. Single-layer reinforcement is relatively straightforward to integrate in 3DPC, while double-layer reinforcement requires a strategic infill pattern to achieve the necessary reinforcement layout within the 3DPC structure. The dynamic performance of these configurations is evaluated through numerical and analytical analysis, with structural parameters such as reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength, axial load, aspect ratio, and slenderness ratio held constant. The findings highlight the distinct performance characteristics of each reinforcement approach under quasi-static cyclic lateral loading, with double-layer reinforcement configuration demonstrating 30.6 % higher lateral load capacity (465.72 kN) compared to the single-layer design (356 kN), and exhibits 9.8 % increase in failure displacement, a higher ductility factor (4.36 vs. 4.01), and improved energy dissipation capacity, particularly at larger drift levels. Whereas single layer reinforcement exhibits lower strain concentrations, indicating better resistance to strain-induced damage. This work provides key insights for adapting ACI-based design principles to 3DPC, addressing both structural feasibility and practicality in earthquake-resistant 3DPC wall design.