Enhancing Clay-Based 3D-Printed Mortars with Polymeric Mesh Reinforcement Techniques

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, including 3D mortar printing (3DMP), 3D concrete printing (3DCP), and Liquid Deposition Modeling (LDM), offer significant advantages in construction. They reduce project time, costs, and resource requirements while enabling free design possibilities and automating construction processes, thereby reducing workplace accidents. However, AM faces challenges in achieving superior mechanical performance compared to traditional methods due to poor interlayer bonding and material anisotropies. This study aims to enhance structural properties in AM constructions by embedding 3D-printed polymeric meshes in clay-based mortars. Clay-based materials are chosen for their environmental benefits. The study uses meshes with optimal geometry from the literature, printed with three widely used polymeric materials in 3D printing applications (PLA, ABS, and PETG). To reinforce the mechanical properties of the printed specimens, the meshes were strategically placed in the interlayer direction during the 3D printing process. The results show that the 3D-printed specimens with meshes have improved flexural strength, validating the successful integration of these reinforcements.