3D concrete printing: Lattice modeling of structural failure considering damage and deformed geometry

Abstract

This research studies the impact of localized damage and deformed printing geometry on the structural failure of plastic collapse for 3D concrete printing (3DCP) using the lattice model. Two different approaches are utilized for buildability quantification: the (previously developed) load-unload method, which updates and relaxes the printing system after each analysis step and repeatedly applies the gravitational loading to the undeformed structure; and the incremental method, which keeps the load after each analysis step and applies the incremental loading to the deformed printing system. The former can consider the material yielding but cannot capture accurately the structural deformation during printing process. Compared to the load-unload method, the incremental method can not only consider deformed printing geometry but can also simulate the non-proportional loading conditions and disequilibrium force occurring during 3D printing. In this study, computational uniaxial compression tests are first conducted to compare two algorithms. The numerical results indicate the consideration of nonequilibrium force and deformed geometry affects the peak load and crack information for fracture analysis. Subsequently, the incremental method is incorporated into the lattice model to quantify buildability of 3DCP. The predictions are compared with previously published numerical results obtained using the load-unload method. The lattice model based on incremental method reproduces correct failure mode; better quantitative agreement about critical printing height also can be obtained. These numerical analyses demonstrate that the incremental solution is an approximate method for buildability quantification since it can account for the nonequilibrium force induced by the deformed printing geometry and localized damage.