Experimental investigations on the rheological properties of the proposed 3D printing mortar

Abstract

After almost 30 years and many projects investigated all over the world, the full potential that 3D printing technology can bring to the construction industry has yet to be realised. There are many challenges that face the application of 3D printing technology to the construction field. Among these challenges, mixture proportion design is crucial for the preparation of 3D printing concrete. Therefore, this study focuses on mix proportion design approaches and tests, which access some rheological properties of the fresh mortar. Because they are highly practical and convenient in construction, materials including cement, fly ash, and natural sand were selected for mixing proportion analysis. Slump-flow tests, V-funnel tests, and buildability tests were also employed in this study. This first analysis on the mixture proportion and method to evaluate rheological properties of 3D printing mortar can be considered a reference and orientation to develop 3D printing technology in Vietnam.

Keywords

• buildability test
• fresh properties
• mortar
• slump-flow test
• V-funnel test
• 3D printing