Dynamic Stress Ratio Research Articles

Microstructure and dynamic behaviours of polyurethane-cured sea sand under traffic–load–induced stress path

Employing sea sand as fill material for roadbeds presents significant challenges due to its naturally high dispersibility and low bearing capacity, which contribute to substantial settlement deformations under traffic load impacts. In this investigation, a two-component polyurethane was applied to enhance mechanical properties of sea sand. Alterations in the microstructure and dynamic behaviours of the polyurethane-cured sea sand were observed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and hollow cylindrical torsional shear testing. It was found that polyurethane is incorporated into the sea sand as adhesives between particles, attachments on the particles and floating adhesives. With an increase in polyurethane content, a transition from a granular to a solid state in the sand was noted, accompanied by a progressive improvement in structural integrity. This resulted in an enhanced bonding effect at interparticle contacts with diminishing relative particle movements during shearing, leading to an increase in the critical dynamic stress ratio and a decrease in the maximum damping ratio, with both ratios being higher in cured sea sand with lower polyurethane content compared to that with higher content. Additionally, high polyurethane content induced strain hardening in the cured sea sand, resulting in a higher maximum dynamic shear modulus in low-content cured sea sand compared to high-content. Furthermore, the dynamic shear modulus ratio in sea sand with high polyurethane content was found to increase with the number of vibrations.

Experiment and analysis on dynamic characteristics of marine soft clay

A series of cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on marine soft clay deposits to establish and validate a predictive model for cumulative plastic strain. Additionally, a numerical model of particle flow code in cyclic triaxial tests was developed. The effects of confining pressure, moisture content, and dynamic stress ratio on the dynamic properties of marine soft clay were examined, considering factors such as volume deformation and microscopic failure patterns. The results indicated that both the predictive model and numerical model showed strong consistency with the experimental data. The plastic strain of marine soft clay was influenced by moisture content, stress ratio, and confining pressure in a consistent manner, with moisture content being the primary factor. A predictive model for the cumulative plastic strain of marine soft clay was successfully established, allowing for the evaluation of dynamic properties from the perspective of cumulative plastic strain. During the loading process in the numerical model, microcracks within the soil structure gradually compacted, and the main displacement of the specimen extended from the vertical center axis to the sides, ultimately resulting in shear damage.

Undrained permanent deformation characteristics of Yellow River silt under one-way cyclic loads

As a new type of engineering construction filler, it is particularly important to know the shakedown and permanent deformation characteristics of the Yellow River silt under cyclic load. In this study, a series of undrained cyclic triaxial tests for Yellow River silt are carried out by using GDS triaxial apparatus, the effects of relative density, loading frequency, confining pressure and cyclic stress ratio on the development curve of permanent strain are explored. Based on the shakedown theory and combined with the data of permanent strain development curve of Yellow River silt at different stress levels, a calculation model for its critical dynamic stress and limit cyclic stress ratio under shakedown state is determined. Further analysis is conducted on the development law of the permanent strain curve of Yellow River silt under shakedown state, and a prediction model for permanent strain of Yellow River silt considering different parameters was established. Then the accuracy of the model is verified. Combining with splitting summation method, the settlement of foundation can be calculated.

Study on the effect of stress path on the deformation and non-coaxial characteristics of modified iron tailings

In order to study the deformation and non-coaxial characteristics of fiber cement modified iron tailing sand (FCIT) under different stress paths. The evolution law of the dynamic stress ratio (η) on the cumulative deformation and non-coaxial angle of FCIT under different tension-compression amplitude ratios (α) was explored through hollow torsional shear tests. The deformation behavior of FCIT is analyzed by using the stability theory. The research results show that: 1) The increase of dynamic stress level will deepen the cumulative deformation of FCIT, while the increase of α will make the deformation mode of FCIT develop into bulging failure-shear failure-tensile failure. 2) According to the development trend of cumulative strain and cumulative strain rate of FCIT, it can be divided into three stages: plastic stability, plastic creep and incremental collapse, and the cumulative strain rate development prediction model is established, and the prediction error distribution is within ±20%. 3) The stress path determines the non-coaxiality of FCIT to a certain extent, and the non-coaxial angle fluctuates and decreases with the increase of the principal stress direction angle. When α=0.125, the maximum and minimum values of the non-coaxial angle of FCIT are 1.5 rad and 0.4 rad respectively. 4) Cement hydration reaction generates calcium alumina and hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) to make FCIT structure more compact, fiber-matrix interfacial connections more dense, and play a role in filling the pores.

Multi-effect of fineness and replacement ratio of binders on thixotropic and some fresh state properties of cementitious systems, a comparative study

Effects of cement fineness, fly ash replacement ratio and fineness changes on some fresh state and rheological properties of mixtures were investigated in this study. Two different Blaine finenesses of portland cement (4000, 5000 cm2/g) and 4 different finenesses of fly ash (4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 cm2/g) were used. 26 different paste mixtures were prepared by substituting fly ash in 3 different ratios (10%, 20%, and 30%) by weight. Marsh-funnel flow time, mini-slump, setting time, dynamic yield stress (DYS), viscosity and thixotropic behavior of mixtures were investigated. 4 different thixotropy measurement methods were used; dynamic yield stress ratio (DYSR), viscosity ratio (VR), shear stress-structural build-up area (SBUshr) and viscosity-structural build-up area (SBUvis). There was no notable change in the initial setting time results of the mixtures with the increase in portland cement fineness. The rheological parameters and thixotropic behavior of the mixtures increased significantly. Vicat-water requirement and setting-time-value decreased with the increase of fly ash fineness in cementitious mixtures with low fineness. The structural build-up of the mixtures decrease with the rise of the F class FA replacement ratio. It was determined that the methods with the highest correlation among thixotropy measurement methods were SBUshr-SBUvis, DYSR-SBUshr and DYSR-Athix, respectively.

Experimental Study on Dynamic Characteristics of Saturated Soft Clay with Sand Interlayer under Unidirectional and Bidirectional Vibration

The marine and alluvial plains along the southeastern coast of China are widely distributed in sandy formations, including smaller sand lenses and interlayers. The interlayers of sand have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of soft clay. In this paper, a large number of undrained unidirectional and bidirectional cyclic loading tests for soft clay with sand interlayers were carried out by a dynamic triaxial test system. Test results show that, under unidirectional and bidirectional cyclic vibration, the area of the hysteresis loop decreases and the slope of the connecting line at both ends of the hysteresis loop increases with the increasing of frequency. For the same vibration frequency, the area of the bidirectional vibration hysteresis loop and the slope of the connecting line at both ends are smaller than that of the unidirectional cyclic vibration. Under the same dynamic stress ratio, cumulative axial deformation caused by unidirectional and bidirectional vibration increases with the increasing frequency. Under unidirectional vibration, dynamic elastic modulus decreases at first, and then increases with the increasing frequency. For the same frequency, dynamic elastic modulus of the sample increases with the increase in cycles. Due to the effect of radial cyclic stress, the curves of dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio with frequency under bidirectional vibration are opposite to those under unidirectional vibration.

Intelligent decision-making support system for the commissioning of a small hydroelectric power plant in the Republic of Tyva

This paper investigates the cutting forces arising when using a single abrasive grain. Analytical studies were carried out using a model of a single abrasive grain in the form of a rod with a radiused apex acting on the workpiece material. The slip-line method (method of characteristics) was used to calculate the deformation intensity of a plastically edged workpiece material under the action of a single grain. Mathematical models were developed for the following factors: plastic deformation of the material, edging of the stagnated zone and its friction against the grain surface when moved upwards in the form of chippings, grain friction against the plastically deformed material, and the action of the dynamic component of plastic deformation. The significance of the dynamic component in the overall balance of forces related to plastic deformation was established by determining the ratio of dynamic stress on the break line and shear yield point. This dependence calculated for D16T and 30HGSA materials showed the feasibility of accounting for the dynamic component system based on a small hydropower station located in the Todzhinsky district of the Republic of Tyva. For an adequate assessment of the operational reliability of hydropower units, a logical and probabilistic method based on the kinetic theory of fault tree was used. The method allows the failures of the used equipment, as well as unplanned shutdowns of units due to a shortage of water resources in the Great Yenisey (low water, overdrying, and frozen frost), to be taken into account. The development of a generation system based on a small hydroelectric power plant for the settlements in the Todzhinsky district of the Republic of Tyva offers a load of up to 2,500 kW, which helps to reduce the cost of purchasing, delivering, and storing diesel fuel, while diesel generators can be used as backup power sources. 3 scenarios of structuring a small hydroelectric power plant were considered that involved various numbers and total capacity of hydrogenating units: 5x500 kW, 4x630 kW, and 3x800 kW. Therefore, by using the multi-criteria optimization method, the optimal structure of the generating system based on a small hydroelectric power plant having three hydroelectric units (each characterized by a capacity of 800 kW) was selected from the three proposed options, taking into account the reliability and uncertainty of the initial information.

Method for processing experimental data when investigating residual stresses by drilling probe holes and digital image correlation

This paper investigates the cutting forces arising when using a single abrasive grain. Analytical studies were carried out using a model of a single abrasive grain in the form of a rod with a radiused apex acting on the workpiece material. The slip-line method (method of characteristics) was used to calculate the deformation intensity of a plastically edged workpiece material under the action of a single grain. Mathematical models were developed for the following factors: plastic deformation of the material, edging of the stagnated zone and its friction against the grain surface when moved upwards in the form of chippings, grain friction against the plastically deformed material, and the action of the dynamic component of plastic deformation. The significance of the dynamic component in the overall balance of forces related to plastic deformation was established by determining the ratio of dynamic stress on the break line and shear yield point. This dependence calculated for D16T and 30HGSA materials showed the feasibility of accounting for the dynamic component subsequently processed by free orthogonal cutting and rolling contact deformation using a special machine with numerical control. Further, using the same machine, drilling of probing holes was performed with video recording of the surface image prior to and following drilling. By varying the speckle images, the displacements of material particles on the sample surface were determined by the digital image correlation method, following which the radial deformations were determined by differentiating the obtained displacement values. Statistical analysis of a sample of radial deformations equidistant from the centre of the hole while varying the rotation angle by Fourier transformation with the calculation of the distribution period showed that the distribution is periodic. It is established that the periodograms constructed using experimental data have local maxima at a period value close to 180 degrees. This determines that the main calculated components of the residual stresses and the angle of their rotation be constant when selected to calculate the values of radial deformations at arbitrary points around the hole. The paper presents an approach that allows residual stresses to be determined by drilling probing holes and assessing the displacement of material particles on the sample surface due to the redistribution of residual stresses. For the analytical description of experimental data, it is proposed that an approximating periodic function be used, and the physical meaning of its coefficients is determined.

Effects of cyclic loading on soil arching within pile-supported embankment with artificial crust: A coupled DEM-FDM approach

This study endeavors to investigate the evolution of soil arching within pile-supported embankments featuring artificial crusts under cyclic loading. A quasi-three-dimensional (quasi-3D) model was formulated utilizing the Discrete Element-Finite Difference coupled method (DEM-FDM) and validated by in-situ vibration tests. The mechanism underlying the soil arching weakening due to cyclic loading was elucidated, and the impacts of artificial crust moduli and thicknesses on soil arching were consolidated. The findings demonstrate that the equal settlement section moves upwards, and the lower limit of the settlement trough resulting from cyclic loading extends downward with an escalation in axle load, but these remain relatively consistent as the loading velocity increases. Additionally, the transmission of dynamic stress from the pavement surface to the outer surface of the arch approximately adheres to the Boussinesq formula, whereas the stress propagation from the outer surface to the top of the pile cap conforms to the prescribed dynamic pile-soil stress ratio. Furthermore, increasing the thickness and the elastic modulus of the artificial crust contributes to diminished pile-soil differential settlement, alteration in the pile-soil stress ratio, lowered susceptibility of artificial crust deflection to cyclic loading, reduced anisotropy coefficient, and a counterclockwise rotation in the primary direction of the normal contact force exerted on particles within the arch region.

Experimental Study on the Axial Deformation Characteristics of Compacted Lanzhou Loess under Traffic Loads

It is beneficial to the sustainable development of expressway engineering to reuse excavated soil as roadbed filling material. There are a large number of filling projects using loess as a filling material in Northwest China. In this paper, the loess subgrade of an expressway in Lanzhou is taken as the research object, and a series of experimental studies are conducted using a hollow cylindrical torsion shear system to simulate the formation of a “heart-shaped” stress path and the principal stress rotation (PSR) under long-term traffic loads. The effects of the vertical cyclic dynamic stress ratio, torsion shear stress ratio, initial static shear stress, and intermediate principal stress coefficient on the axial plastic deformation and rebound deformation of compacted loess in Lanzhou were studied. The results show that the vertical cyclic stress ratio (VCSR) has a significant effect on the axial deformation of compacted loess in Lanzhou. When the VCSR is less than 0.6, all the axial strain curves develop stably with the number of cycles. With an increasing VCSR, the axial plastic deformation increases obviously, and the axial rebound deformation also increases. The vertical cyclic dynamic stress of the specimen is constant. Moreover, increasing the torsional shear stress ratio (that is, increasing the amplitude of cyclic shear stress) can greatly increase the development of axial deformation, but it has no effect on the rebound deformation curve. When the initial static shear stress exists in the specimen, the larger the initial static stress ratio (SSR) is, the larger the axial plastic deformation. The axial plastic deformation increases by approximately 33% for every 0.1 increase in the SSR. The rebound deformation of different SSRs fluctuates at the initial stage of cyclic loading, but the final stable rebound deformation is basically the same as that at the initial stage of cyclic loading. The intermediate principal stress coefficient has no effect on the development of axial strain, and the effect on axial rebound deformation is negligible. Finally, the calculation model of the axial plastic strain of Lanzhou compacted loess under traffic loads is obtained. The research results can provide a reference for the durability and settlement prediction in loess engineering.

Force of cutting by a single abrasive grain

This paper investigates the cutting forces arising when using a single abrasive grain. Analytical studies were carried out using a model of a single abrasive grain in the form of a rod with a radiused apex acting on the workpiece material. The slip-line method (method of characteristics) was used to calculate the deformation intensity of a plastically edged workpiece material under the action of a single grain. Mathematical models were developed for the following factors: plastic deformation of the material, edging of the stagnated zone and its friction against the grain surface when moved upwards in the form of chippings, grain friction against the plastically deformed material, and the action of the dynamic component of plastic deformation. The significance of the dynamic component in the overall balance of forces related to plastic deformation was established by determining the ratio of dynamic stress on the break line and shear yield point. This dependence calculated for D16T and 30HGSA materials showed the feasibility of accounting for the dynamic component of the cutting force under the velocity of a single grain impacting the workpiece surface of above 50 m/s. Graphs depicting the relative grain force and the relative depth of grain penetration are given. The proposed calculation method for cutting forces using a single grain can be used to determine the total force of interaction between the single grain and the work-piece material. In order to adopt the defined processing method and the workpiece material, the number of grains in contact, the contact duration, and the cutting speed should be found. On this basis, the process performance and the quality of the workpiece surface can be calculated.

Static and Dynamic Load Transfer Behaviors of the Composite Foundation Reinforced by the Geosynthetic-Encased Stone Column

An accurate description of the load transfer behaviors of the geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) is of great importance for revealing the bearing capacity of GESC. Static load tests and shake table model tests were performed to characterize the static and dynamic load transfer behaviors of the composite foundation reinforced by the GESC. Under static loading, static load tests were conducted on a fully geosynthetic-encased stone column (FGESC), partially geosynthetic-encased stone column (PGESC) and traditional stone column (TSC). The influence of length and stiffness of the encasement on the stone columns were investigated. Under seismic loading, the shake table model tests were performed to analyze the differences of the dynamic pile-soil stress responses between the composite foundations with the GESC and the TSC. The results show that the static pile-soil stress ratios of the composite foundation with the FGESC are about three to six times of those of the composite foundation with the TSC, and the difference increases with the increase in the stiffness or length of the encasement. The static vertical stress of 60% acting on the pile top can be transferred to the pile bottom for the FGESC, while only 27~45% for the TSC. The dynamic pile-soil stress ratios of the GESC and the TSC first decrease and then increase slightly with the increase of the input peak acceleration. The dynamic pile-soil stress ratio of the GESC is about three times that of the TSC under seismic excitation with the same type and peak acceleration. The attenuation rate of dynamic stress along the pile body under dynamic loading is much faster than that under the static loading. Under the static and dynamic conditions, the load transfer capacity and pile efficacy of the GESC are always better than those of the TSC.

Accumulative Plastic Deformation of the Improved Completely Weathered Granite Subgrade in High-Speed Railway

The improvement and reuse of completely weathered granite (CWG) with poor engineering properties for backfilling embankments can help protect the environment and bring great economic benefits. The embankment of high-speed railways demands an extremely low additional subgrade settlement under long-term dynamic loads. To analyze the applicability of the improved CWG used for subgrade filling, a series of laboratory dynamic triaxial and field cyclic loading tests were carried out. On the basis of the test results, a calculation model of accumulative plastic strain considering the dynamic stress ratio and the cement content was established. Using the proposed model and the numerically calculated dynamic stress, the accumulative plastic deformation of an embankment filled with improved CWG under various driving conditions was calculated and discussed. The variation of accumulative plastic deformation of the improved CWG with loading cycles could be described by a power function. The dynamic stress level had a significant influence on the accumulative plastic strain, and the strain in the bottom layer of the subgrade bed was greatly attenuated. Accordingly, most of the accumulative plastic deformation attenuation occurred within the depth range of the subgrade bed. The final total accumulative plastic deformations of the embankment were less than 2 mm (5 mm for the limit value) after 4 million times of high-speed train loadings, proving that the improved CWG can be used for subgrade filling. The influence of the axle load on accumulative plastic deformation was more significant than that of the train speed. The proposed calculation model of the accumulative plastic strain could provide valuable reference for similar railway engineering.

The Fractal Characteristics of Soft Soil under Cyclic Loading Based on SEM

Cyclic loading always results in great damage to the pore structure and fractal characteristics of soft soil. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) can help collect data to describe the microstructure of soft soil. This paper conducted a series of SEM tests to interpret the effect of consolidation confining pressure, circulating dynamic stress ratios and overconsolidation ratio on soil’s micro-pore structure and fractal characteristics. The results demonstrate that fractal dimension can well represent the complex characteristics of the microstructure of the soil; the larger the consolidation confining pressure, the greater the cyclic dynamic stress ratio, and the greater the overconsolidation ratio, the smaller the fractal dimension number of soil samples. Finally, an empirical fitting formula for cumulative strain considering microstructure parameters is established through data fitting.

A Threshold Model of Tailings Sand Liquefaction Based on PSO-SVM

The liquefaction of tailings sand caused by seismic loads is a major problem in ensuring the safety of tailings ponds. Liquefaction may cause uncontrolled fluidized failure of the dam body, causing considerable damage to the lives, property and environment of people downstream. In this paper, a prototype tailings sand is used as the material to consider the main factors affecting liquefaction (i.e., dynamic load, soil quality, burial and static conditions). By embedding acceleration, pore pressure and earth pressure sensors in the rigid design of the self-designed rigid model box, different types of seismic waves of different ground motion amplitudes (PGA) were induced in a shaking table test of tailings sand liquefaction. The seismic intensity, waveform (class II, III and IV seismic waves) and active earth pressure of the PGA characterizing dynamic factors were obtained, and the static factors were characterized. The dynamic shear stress ratio, the peak acceleration of the earthquake, the pore pressure of the drainage factor and the buried depth (overlying effective pressure) characterize the soil conditions. SPSS software was used to analyze the factor dimension reduction, and the most suitable factors for factor analysis were obtained. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was used to optimize the parameters, and the improved PSO-SVM algorithm was compared with the existing genetic algorithm (GA) and grid node search (GS). The algorithm used in this paper is fast and has a relatively high accuracy rate of 92.7%. The established threshold model method is of great significance to predict the liquefaction of tailings sand soil under the action of ground motions and to carry out safety managemenin advance, which can provide a certain reference for the project.

An empirical model for predicting pore pressure development in artificial freeze-thaw soft clay under cyclic loading

In recent years, the artificial ground freezing (AGF) method has been widely used in subway construction, and the engineering properties of soil have changed significantly after freezing and thawing. In this paper, a series of dynamic triaxial tests were used to investigate the pore pressure development of freeze-thaw soft clay under different cyclic dynamic stress ratios, loading frequencies and freezing temperatures. The test results show that the types of normalization pore pressure development include developmental and stable. An empirical model, considering the effects of cyclic dynamic stress ratio, loading frequency, freezing temperature and number of cyclic loading, was proposed and compared with three representative models proposed by the predecessors to validate that the proposed method has the best estimation on the development of the pore pressure.

Dynamic mechanical properties and constitutive model for jointed mudstone samples subjected to cyclic loading

The dynamic properties of rocks are of great significance to the stability and safety of rock slopes and geological engineering under dynamic loads (e.g. seismic load). In this paper, triaxial cyclic tests were carried out on jointed mudstone samples with the prefabricated half-through joint, and their corresponding dynamic properties and deformation features are explored and analyzed in accordance with the hysteresis characteristics and the residual deformation forms. Moreover, based on the obtained fatigue properties under test conditions of diverse dip angles, confining pressures and dynamic stress, a dynamic stress ratio is proposed, which gives a logarithmic correlation with the fatigue life of mudstone samples. Finally, on the basis of the breakage mechanics and homogenization theory, a dynamic binary-medium constitutive model is proposed, and the validations accompanied with the comparisons to test results are also given. It shows that this model can not only preferably duplicate the typical features of hysteresis loops and the gradually accumulation of the residual strain, but also gives a good consistence with the deformation features and fatigue life obtained from cyclic tests.

Variation in Micro-Pores during Dynamic Consolidation and Compression of Soft Marine Soil

In this study, to explore the microstructure deformation mechanism of marine soft marine soil under cyclic loading, we analyzed the dynamic properties of soft marine soil under cyclic loading via dynamic consolidation compression testing. Then, using Image-Pro Plus (IPP) 6.0 image analysis software, and according to the dynamic consolidation compression test results and the images from a scanning electron microscope (SEM), we determined the weakening effect of soft soils under different consolidation confining pressures, different cyclic stress ratios, and different over-consolidation ratios. After dynamic consolidation and compression, the pore structure of undisturbed soft marine soil tends to compact, the degree of soil particle fragmentation intensifies, small pores increase, large pores decrease, the pores become more regular, and the distribution of pores is directional. Subsequently, for undisturbed soft marine soil, the higher the consolidated confining pressure, cyclic dynamic stress ratio, and over-consolidation ratio, the greater the damage to the pore structure, and the more obvious the structural weakening effect exhibited under cyclic loading.

Study on Cyclic Cumulative Deformation Characteristics and the Equivalent Cyclic Creep Model of Soft Clay

Suction caisson foundations can be used to anchor tension leg platforms. The soil at the bottom of the caisson undergoes both unloading and cyclic loading under wind and wave loads. However, the problem of cyclic cumulative deformation of soft clay under unloading has rarely been addressed. So, the strain cumulative deformation and strain softening characteristics of soft clay are studied by cyclic triaxial tests. The test results show that under low static deviator stress ratios and dynamic deviator stress ratios, the soil has a low level of strain accumulation and softening. As the dynamic deviator stress ratios increase, the cumulative cyclic deformation gradually increases, which rapidly develops in the early stage and tends to stabilize in the later stage. Moreover, the softening index gradually increases and is linearly related to the logarithm of the number of cycles. The cyclic cumulative deformation of the soil increases with increases in unloading stress and dynamic deviator stress, showing a creep characteristic of attenuation and then stabilization. Based on the tests, an equivalent cyclic creep model is established to describe the strain accumulation and softening of soil and verified through comparison with the test results. Then, the model is extended to a three-dimension model, and a finite element subroutine is developed for studying the strain cumulative deformation and strain softening characteristics of soft clay.

Effects of redispersible polymer powders on the structural build-up of 3D printing cement paste with and without hydroxypropyl methylcellulose

This paper studies the effects of polyvinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) based redispersible polymer powder (RPP) and polyvinyl acetate-vinyl versatate-ethylene (VVE) based RPP on the structural build-up of 3D printing cement paste within several hours of hydration. At the same time, two cases of the presence or absence of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) were considered. The build-up performance of cement paste was assessed by the hysteresis area, dynamic yield stress ratio, static yield stress, shear modulus and ultrasonic plus velocity from the dynamic shear test, static shear test and ultrasonic wave transmission test. In addition, the limit layer thickness and printing velocity were calculated by dynamic and static yield stresses to quantitatively characterize shape stability and printing efficiency of cement paste. Results indicate that both VAE with higher ethylene content (VAE1) and VVE decrease the structural build-up rate of cement paste, independent of shear test modes. However, VAE with lower ethylene content (VAE2) increases the structural build-up rate of cement paste under dynamic shear test whereas decreases the growth rate of static yield stress. The dynamic yield stress ratio of cement paste containing 2% VAE2 is 0.57, which is 83.9% higher than that of pure cement paste. In addition, HPMC alters the effects of VAE2 on the structural build-up of cement paste. VAE1 and VVE decrease the shape stability of cement pastes with and without HPMC, while VAE2 is beneficial to the shape stability of cement paste. Limit layer thicknesses of cement pastes with 4% VAE2 are 7.3 mm and 14 mm in the absence and presence of HPMC, which are about 3.0 and 5.8 times that of pure cement paste. In the absence of HPMC, VVE decreases the limit printing velocity of cement paste in the first tens of minutes. VAE1 and VAE2 can improve the printing efficiency due to the increase of limit printing velocity in the first tens of minutes. In the presence of HPMC, only VAE2 significantly improves the limit printing velocity of cement paste.