Influence of Printing Pattern on Bearing Capacity of 3D Printed Concrete Hollow Structures

In this study, four specimens with two cross-section patterns, the W-shape and Y-shape, are printed by using two nozzle sizes to study the effects of the printed patterns and nozzle size on the mechanics properties of 3D Printed Concrete (3DPC) structures. The four-point loading tests are conducted and the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) analysis technology is used. The results showed that the load capacity of the Y-shaped specimens is about 10% higher than that of the W-shaped specimens, and the specimens printed with a smaller nozzle have a load capacity of 15–20% higher. The DIC analysis reveals that the failure modes of the W-shaped and Y-shaped specimens are closely related to the strength of the mid-span nodes.