scholarly journals Effects of Layer-Interface Properties on Mechanical Performance of Concrete Elements Produced by Extrusion-Based 3D-Printing

Author(s):  
Venkatesh Naidu Nerella ◽  
Simone Hempel ◽  
Viktor Mechtcherine

Interfaces between layers in 3D-printed elements produced by extrusion-based material deposition were investigated on both macro- and micro-scales. On the macro-scale, compression and bend tests were performed on two 3D-printable cement-based compositions (3PCs), namely C1 and C2. The influences of binder composition and time interval between layers on layer-interface strength were critically analyzed. In the context of additive manufacturing, the optimized composition C2, containing pozzolanic additives, exhibited mechanical performance superior to that of the mixture with Portland cement as the sole binder. In particular, Mixture C2 showed a less pronounced decrease in interface tensile strength. Even for time intervals between depositions of two layers as long as 1 day the loss in corresponding flexural strength was below 25%, as compared with C2 specimens tested in the perpendicular direction. In contrast, the decrease in flexural strength measured for C1 specimens amounted to over 90% for the same set of parameters. Higher porosity at the interfaces of the printed concrete layers was identified as the cause for the lower interface strengths of C1. Microscopic observations supported the findings of the macroscopic investigations. While a pronounced recovery (“self-healing”) of the porous, discontinuous interlayers was observed with increasing age for Mixture C2, in case of C1 the filling products grown in the porous interlayer were found to be non-strengthening.

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina De Nardi ◽  
Diane Gardner ◽  
Anthony Duncan Jefferson

This paper presents a new form of biomimetic cementitious material, which employs 3D-printed tetrahedral mini-vascular networks (MVNs) to store and deliver healing agents to damage sites within cementitious matrices. The MVNs are required to not only protect the healing agent for a sufficient period of time but also survive the mixing process, release the healing agent when the cementitious matrix is damaged, and have minimal impact on the physical and mechanical properties of the host cementitious matrix. A systematic study is described which fulfilled these design requirements and determined the most appropriate form and material for the MVNs. A subsequent series of experiments showed that MVNs filled with sodium silicate, embedded in concrete specimens, are able to respond effectively to damage, behave as a perfusable vascular system and thus act as healing agent reservoirs that are available for multiple damage-healing events. It was also proved that healing agents encapsulated within these MVNs can be transported to cracked zones in concrete elements under capillary driving action, and produce a recovery of strength, stiffness and fracture energy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (17) ◽  
pp. 5739
Author(s):  
Xenia Tsilimigkra ◽  
Dimitrios Bekas ◽  
Maria Kosarli ◽  
Stavros Tsantzalis ◽  
Alkiviadis Paipetis ◽  
...  

Microcapsule-based carbon fiber reinforced composites were manufactured by wet layup, in order to assess their mechanical properties and determine their healing efficiency. Microcapsules at 10%wt. containing bisphenol-A epoxy, encapsulated in a urea formaldehyde (UF) shell, were employed with Scandium (III) Triflate (Sc (OTf)3) as the catalyst. The investigation was deployed with two main directions. The first monitored changes to the mechanical performance due to the presence of the healing agent within the composite. More precisely, a minor decrease in interlaminar fracture toughness (GIIC) (−14%), flexural strength (−12%) and modulus (−4%) compared to the reference material was reported. The second direction evaluated the healing efficiency. The experimental results showed significant recovery in fracture toughness up to 84% after the healing process, while flexural strength and modulus healing rates reached up to 14% and 23%, respectively. The Acoustic Emission technique was used to support the experimental results by the onsite monitoring.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 2993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolien Van Der Putten ◽  
Maxim Deprez ◽  
Veerle Cnudde ◽  
Geert De Schutter ◽  
Kim Van Tittelboom

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) has progressed rapidly in recent years. With the aim to realize both buildings and civil works without using any molding, not only has the need for reliable mechanical properties of printed concrete grown, but also the need for more durable and environmentally friendly materials. As a consequence of super positioning cementitious layers, voids are created which can negatively affect durability. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the relationship between 3DCP process parameters and the formed microstructure. The effect of two different process parameters (printing speed and inter-layer time) on the microstructure was established for fresh and hardened states, and the results were correlated with mechanical performance. In the case of a higher printing speed, a lower surface roughness was created due to the higher kinetic energy of the sand particles and the higher force applied. Microstructural investigations revealed that the amount of unhydrated cement particles was higher in the case of a lower inter-layer interval (i.e., 10 min). This phenomenon could be related to the higher water demand of the printed layer in order to rebuild the early Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (CSH) bridges and the lower amount of water available for further hydration. The number of pores and the pore distribution were also more pronounced in the case of lower time intervals. Increasing the inter-layer time interval or the printing speed both lowered the mechanical performance of the printed specimens. This study emphasizes that individual process parameters will affect not only the structural behavior of the material, but they will also affect the durability and consequently the resistance against aggressive chemical substances.


Rapid prototyping is a technology capable of producing physical models in layer by layer directly from CAD model without any tools, dies and fixtures while involving little human intervention. Rapid prototyping can fabricate complex shapes easily as compared with traditional manufacturing. It also helps in early detection and reduction of design errors. Thermoplastics used in this study are ABS and PLA which are easily available and cost effective. This study aim to investigate the mechanical performance of the 3D printed ABS and PLA thermoplastics and comparing them with the sample produced by preparing the multilayer of those themoplastics. An attempt is made to increase the mechanical performance by preparing the samples with multilayer structures using ABS and PLA. Mechanical tests like Tensile test, Compressive test, Flexural strength, Microhardness and surface roughness have been conducted as per the ASTM standards. Microstructures of the samples are acquired with optical microscope. From the results obtained ABS exhibited more flexural strength and higher elongation before breaking. But ABS consists of chemicals when heated to a certain temperature releases organic volatile compounds which are health hazardous. In order to reduce the chemical effect of ABS, a thermoplastic called PLA is used which is produced naturally and is incorporated to decrease ABS content and achieve the properties of ABS. In the present work the flexural strength of layered sample is nearer to the ABS. So, inorder to reduce the chemical effects of ABS the layered polymer can be used


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1271
Author(s):  
Andreas Koenig ◽  
Leonie Schmohl ◽  
Johannes Scheffler ◽  
Florian Fuchs ◽  
Michaela Schulz-Siegmund ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of X-rays used in micro X-ray computer tomography (µXCT) on the mechanical performance and microstructure of a variety of dental materials. Standardised bending beams (2 × 2 × 25 mm3) were forwarded to irradiation with an industrial tomograph. Using three-dimensional datasets, the porosity of the materials was quantified and flexural strength was investigated prior to and after irradiation. The thermal properties of irradiated and unirradiated materials were analysed and compared by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Single µXCT measurements led to a significant decrease in flexural strength of polycarbonate with acrylnitril-butadien-styrol (PC-ABS). No significant influence in flexural strength was identified for resin-based composites (RBCs), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and zinc phosphate cement (HAR) after a single irradiation by measurement. However, DSC results suggest that changes in the microstructure of PMMA are possible with increasing radiation doses (multiple measurements, longer measurements, higher output power from the X-ray tube). In summary, it must be assumed that X-ray radiation during µXCT measurement at high doses can lead to changes in the structure and properties of certain polymers.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 2146
Author(s):  
Jian Guan ◽  
Fu-zhen Yuan ◽  
Zi-mu Mao ◽  
Hai-lin Zhu ◽  
Lin Lin ◽  
...  

The limited self-healing ability of cartilage necessitates the application of alternative tissue engineering strategies for repairing the damaged tissue and restoring its normal function. Compared to conventional tissue engineering strategies, three-dimensional (3D) printing offers a greater potential for developing tissue-engineered scaffolds. Herein, we prepared a novel photocrosslinked printable cartilage ink comprising of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), and chondroitin sulfate methacrylate (CSMA). The PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffolds possessed favorable compressive elastic modulus and degradation rate. In vitro experiments showed good adhesion, proliferation, and F-actin and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the scaffolds. When the CSMA concentration was increased, the compressive elastic modulus, GAG production, and expression of F-actin and cartilage-specific genes (COL2, ACAN, SOX9, PRG4) were significantly improved while the osteogenic marker genes of COL1 and ALP were decreased. The findings of the study indicate that the 3D-printed PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffolds possessed not only adequate mechanical strength but also maintained a suitable 3D microenvironment for differentiation, proliferation, and extracellular matrix production of BMSCs, which suggested this customizable 3D-printed PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA scaffold may have great potential for cartilage repair and regeneration in vivo.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1949
Author(s):  
Ling Ding ◽  
Wei Lu ◽  
Jiaqi Zhang ◽  
Chuncheng Yang ◽  
Guofeng Wu

Literature has reported the successful use of 3D printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to fabricate human body implants and oral prostheses. However, the current 3D printed PEEK (brown color) cannot mimic the vivid color of oral tissues and thus cannot meet the esthetical need for dental application. Therefore, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3) were incorporated into PEEK to prepare a series of tooth-color and gingival-color PEEK composites in this study. Through color measurements and mechanical tests, the color value and mechanical performance of the 3D printed PEEK composites were evaluated. In addition, duotone PEEK specimens were printed by a double nozzle with an interface between tooth-color and gingival-color parts. The mechanical performance of duotone PEEK with two different interfaces (horizontal and vertical) was investigated. With the addition of TiO2 and Fe2O3, the colors of 3D printed PEEK composites become closer to that of dental shade guides. 3D printed PEEK composites generally demonstrated superior tensile and flexural properties and hence have great potential in the dental application. In addition, duotone 3D printed PEEK with a horizontal interfacial orientation presented better mechanical performance than that with a vertical one.


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