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Sewing Concrete Device-Combining In-Line Rheology Control and Reinforcement System for 3D Concrete Printing
Yohan Jacquet1, Arnaud Perrot1
1IRDL, UMR CNRS 6027, Université de Bretagne Sud, 56100 Lorient, France.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 29, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel device for 3D concrete printing that automates structural reinforcement and provides inline quality control. The system uses a sewing mechanism with a hollow needle to embed reinforcement and monitor material properties during printing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Extrusion-based 3D concrete printing is a widely studied digital additive manufacturing technique.
- Key challenges in 3D concrete printing include automated structural reinforcement and inline quality control of fresh-state properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel device for simultaneously reinforcing 3D-printed concrete structures and performing inline quality control.
- To enable automated, multi-directional reinforcement and monitor material homogeneity during the printing process.
Main Methods:
- A sewing system comprising a rotating hollow needle driven by a stepper motor was developed.
- The device embeds reinforcing cables or yarns and injects cement grout for improved bonding.
- Torque measurement during needle penetration serves as a quality-control index for material homogeneity.
Main Results:
- The proposed device can simultaneously reinforce structures along and through layers.
- It facilitates automated, multi-directional reinforcement pattern creation.
- Torque monitoring provides a real-time quality-control metric for fresh-state concrete properties.
Conclusions:
- The developed device addresses critical challenges in 3D concrete printing by integrating reinforcement and quality control.
- This innovation offers a pathway towards more robust and reliable 3D-printed concrete structures.
- The system's automation and inline monitoring capabilities support efficient and shared practices in additive construction.
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