Computational Modeling for Structural Elements Analysis Using Cement Composites in 3D Printing

Abstract The construction industry has incorporated 3D printing as an innovative technology. However, there are still challenges involving the complexity of the necessary parameters, such as the geometric characteristics, strength and rigidity of the printed objects. In this way, this study proposes a new computational modeling for dimensioning 3D printed structures, based on the non-linear mechanical properties of the material, that consists of a numerical reproduction of an experimental test using finite elements, with time interval between layers of 11s. The results obtained revealed good agreement with those from experimental tests, and consolidated the theoretical formulation. The parametric analyses showed that the proposed model is an accurate tool to reveal the effects of printing speed on the construction process in terms of vertical normal stress, with maximum percentage variation between the models of 5.22%, and in terms of vertical displacements, with variations smaller than 1 mm in absolute values.