Deformation of inclined concrete 3D printing: A computational fluid dynamics analysis

Current extrusion-based 3D printing technologies for concrete are ill suited for constructing complex geometric structures featuring curved or inclined surfaces. In this study, one 3D concrete printing model based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was established. The concrete fluid model was simulated via the Bingham rheological model. After validating the model's accuracy through experimental data, the effects of variables such as the inclination angle, printing speed, and layer height on the deformation of 3D printed concrete structures with inclined angles was investigated. Our findings reveal that both the layer height and inclination angle exert the most significant influence on the deformation and stability of concrete structures, whereas increasing the printing speed exacerbates deformation. Within the parameter range explored in this study, an increase in the inclination angle markedly enhances the deformation of the concrete structure. Furthermore, reducing the layer height substantially mitigates deformation and improves structural stability.