Experimental study on mechanical properties of 3D Printed layered rock like materials

Layered rocks are prevalent in the Earth's crust and are frequently encountered in underground engineering construction. Due to their pronounced anisotropy, the deformation and failure mechanism of layered rock are complex. Laboratory tests are an effective way to study these mechanisms. However, natural layered rocks present challenges, such as difficult sampling and large discreteness. Additionally, current methods for creating layered rock models are often costly or lack precision, limiting research into their mechanical properties. In this study, a 3D printing process using wet material extrusion was adopted, with a wide range of material options and low production costs. Five layered model samples with bedding dip angles of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° were printed using this method. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted, supplemented by digital image correlation (DIC) to capture detailed stress-strain data and failure patterns. The results demonstrate that the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed samples closely resemble those of natural layered rocks and exhibit significant anisotropy. This approach presents a new cost-effective method for studying the mechanical behavior of layered rock.