Influence of curing conditions on the shrinkage behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete formwork

doi:10.1007/s11709-024-1097-8

Front. Struct. Civ. Eng.

2024, Vol. 18

Issue (8) : 1225-1236 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-024-1097-8

Influence of curing conditions on the shrinkage behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete formwork

M. BEKAERT, K. van TITTELBOOM(

), G. de SCHUTTER

Magnel-Vandepitte Laboratory for structural Engineering and Building Materials, Department of Structural Engineering and Building Materials, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Ghent 60 B-9052, Belgium

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Abstract

The use of three-dimensional (3D) printed concrete as formwork is becoming more widely applied within the industry. However, the technology is still not optimized and there are many reports of preliminary cracking during the curing of cast concrete. This is believed to result from differential shrinkage between the printed and cast concrete. These cracks (in the printed concrete or at the interface between the infill and printed concrete) form a preferential path for aggressive substances and can reduce the durability of the combined concrete element. To ensure the desired service life of the structure, it is important that the differential shrinkage between cast and printed concrete is understood. This study investigated the effect of curing conditions on the differential shrinkage behavior of 3D and cast concrete. The influence of prewetting of the dry-cured 3D printed formwork was also determined. In the experimental program, a vibrated and self-compacting concrete were used as cast material. Linear 3D printed formwork was produced and combined with cast concrete to simulate a concrete structure. Printed formwork was cured for 1, 7, or 28 d exposed to the air (relative humidity: 60% or 95%) or submerged in water. The length change of the combined elements was observed over 56 d after concrete casting and throughout the thickness of the materials. Results show that increasing the curing period in dry conditions of the printed concrete leads to an expansion of the formwork on the first day after casting. The expansion leads to a non-uniform strain evolution throughout the curing period of the combined element. Printed concrete formwork stored in wet conditions does not expand after the casting process but tends to show a decreasing linear deformation within the whole elements.

Keywords 3D concrete printing formwork shrinkage curing

Corresponding Author(s): K. van TITTELBOOM

Just Accepted Date: 28 June 2024 Online First Date: 23 July 2024 Issue Date: 29 August 2024

Cite this article:

M. BEKAERT,K. van TITTELBOOM,G. de SCHUTTER. Influence of curing conditions on the shrinkage behavior of three-dimensional printed concrete formwork[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2024, 18(8): 1225-1236.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/10.1007/s11709-024-1097-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/Y2024/V18/I8/1225

Fig.1 Particle size distribution of materials.

Tab.1 Mixture compositions (kg/m³)

Tab.2 Properties of tested concrete. The average values (mean) are reported with their standard deviation (St. dev.) based on at least two separate performed tests

Fig.2 (a) The ABB robotic arm and (b) the nozzle with side trowels.

Fig.3 3D-printed specimens in casting mold.

Tab.3 Overview composite samples (sample size, n = 3)

Fig.4 Combined specimen after casting SCC.

Fig.5 Side view geometry of exposed side-combined specimen. The black dots indicate the Demec-points on the printed concrete side exposed to the air. The horizontal lines show the location of the interlayers of the printed concrete. The dimensions are given in mm.

Fig.6 Top view of the combined specimen. The location of the placed Demec-points (black dots-base length 200 mm) and the distance between the different rows are given in mm.

Fig.7 Covered sides of composite specimens, with dimensions in mm.

Fig.8 Shrinkage of cast and printed concrete (Sample size n = 12).

Fig.9 Effect of restraining due to the infill concrete and curing time of formwork on outside measurements on the outside of the printed formwork in the case of curing at 60% RH.

Fig.10 Shrinkage profile-28 d cured at 95% RH.

Fig.11 Shrinkage profile-28 d cured at 60% RH-SCC.

Fig.12 Shrinkage profile-28 d cured at 60% RH-CVC.

Fig.13 Shrinkage profile-28 d cured in water-SCC.

Fig.14 Shrinkage profile-28 d cured in water-CVC.

Fig.15 Shrinkage profile for specimens with casting delay of 1, 7, and 28 d-measured 1 d after casting-SCC.

Fig.16 Shrinkage profile for specimens with casting delay of 1, 7, and 28 d-measured 28 d after casting-SCC.

Fig.17 Shrinkage profile for specimens with casting delay of 1, 7, and 28 d–measured 56 d after casting-SCC.

Tab.4 Results after prewetting (sample size, n = 3)

Fig.18 Shrinkage profile-Prewetted formwork-RH: 60%-SCC.

Fig.19 Shrinkage profile-Prewetted formwork-RH:95%-SCC.

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