Fibre reinforcement in 3D concrete printing
Date
2025
Authors
Matthew D., Dowdle
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
This research was centered around 3D concrete printing, an additive manufacturing technique that holds great promise. By utilizing the same concept as what is normally associated with 3D printing, complicated structures can be built automatically and in ways that could have never been done before. This research, more specifically, is centered around the addition of cellulose fibres into a cement mixture to observe how it affects the structural properties of said mixture. Cellulose fibres offer a way of reinforcing the mixture sustainably, given the organic nature of cellulose fibres and the fact that they can be sourced from what would otherwise be waste products. A large amount of time was first spent on finding a control mixture that could be properly printed using more manual methods, including caulk-gun-like apparatuses. This is being expanded upon into a small-scale table-top clay printer, which has been adapted to print this cement mixture.
Description
Keywords
3D printing, concrete, sustainability, cellulose fibres