Abstract
The increasing adoption of additive manufacturing in construction necessitates robust simulation frameworks capable of capturing the time-dependent mechanical behaviour of fresh concrete. This study examines the influence of printing speed and nozzle size on the buildability of infilled concrete walls using finite element (FE) simulations. A nonlinear fracture-plastic constitutive model was employed to simulate the time-dependent mechanical behaviour of fresh concrete, with the modelling framework first validated against previously published experimental data to ensure reliability. Subsequently, six wall configurations were analysed, incorporating nozzle diameters of 30 mm and 40 mm, and printing speeds of 20, 30, and 40 mm/s. The results demonstrate that printing speed exerts a dominant influence on buildability. At the highest simulated speed (40 mm/s), premature structural failure was observed, limiting maximum wall heights to 0.56 m for the 30 mm nozzle and to 0.50 m for the 40 mm nozzle. At the intermediate speed (30 mm/s), structural stability improved markedly, with wall heights of 1.16 m and 1.12 m achieved for the 30 mm and 40 mm nozzles, respectively. At the lowest speed (20 mm/s), both wall models successfully reached the full target height of 3 m without collapse, and displacements remained minimal. While nozzle size had a less pronounced effect overall, it was found that the larger nozzle (40 mm) exhibited earlier collapse at higher speeds due to increased self-weight.
Keywords
3D printing, buildability, infilled wall, finite element, printing speed, nozzle size, ATENA.
DOI
10.5703/1288284318135
Recommended Citation
Apsari, Auliagitta Kumala; Tambusay, Asdam; Suprobo, Priyo; and Suryanto, Benny, "Influence of Printing Speed and Nozzle Size on Buildability of 3D Printed Concrete Walls: A Nonlinear Finite Element Study" (2025). International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures. 5.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/icdcs/2025/act/5
Influence of Printing Speed and Nozzle Size on Buildability of 3D Printed Concrete Walls: A Nonlinear Finite Element Study
The increasing adoption of additive manufacturing in construction necessitates robust simulation frameworks capable of capturing the time-dependent mechanical behaviour of fresh concrete. This study examines the influence of printing speed and nozzle size on the buildability of infilled concrete walls using finite element (FE) simulations. A nonlinear fracture-plastic constitutive model was employed to simulate the time-dependent mechanical behaviour of fresh concrete, with the modelling framework first validated against previously published experimental data to ensure reliability. Subsequently, six wall configurations were analysed, incorporating nozzle diameters of 30 mm and 40 mm, and printing speeds of 20, 30, and 40 mm/s. The results demonstrate that printing speed exerts a dominant influence on buildability. At the highest simulated speed (40 mm/s), premature structural failure was observed, limiting maximum wall heights to 0.56 m for the 30 mm nozzle and to 0.50 m for the 40 mm nozzle. At the intermediate speed (30 mm/s), structural stability improved markedly, with wall heights of 1.16 m and 1.12 m achieved for the 30 mm and 40 mm nozzles, respectively. At the lowest speed (20 mm/s), both wall models successfully reached the full target height of 3 m without collapse, and displacements remained minimal. While nozzle size had a less pronounced effect overall, it was found that the larger nozzle (40 mm) exhibited earlier collapse at higher speeds due to increased self-weight.
