Effect of varying shear rates at different resting times on the rheology of 3D printable concrete

Abstract

3D printing offers a paradigm shift in the construction industry. The material undergoes different stages like mixing, pumping, extruding, and printing with disparate shearing patterns and the effect of shear rates must be brought into consideration. The rheological properties of 3D printable concrete with varying shear rates at different resting times were studied. The designed mix has an ultra-high compressive strength of 110 MPa. Different hystresis curves with shear rates of 0–25 s−1 (P1) and 0–50 s−1 (P2) are studied. The tests were conducted at 10 min intervals up to 30 min resting time. The experimental down flow curves are further analyzed using the Bingham model, the modified Bingham model, and the Herschel-Bulkley model. It is observed that the rheological properties of 3D printable concrete are highly dependent on the resting time, and the applied shear rates and demand judicious selection of rheological models to predict yield stress and plastic viscosity. The comparison between experimental and analytical models indicates better predictability with the modified Bingham and Herschel- Bulkley model. The yield stress values for the modified Bingham model were found to be varying from 95 Pa to 178 Pa and Herschel-Bulkley model from 130 Pa to 177 Pa for P1 and P2, respectively.