Researchers in China Test Earthquake Resistance of 3D Printed House

A team of researchers in China have carried out a new experiment to test how well a 3D printed concrete house can withstand earthquakes. The trial took place at the Institute of Engineering Mechanics of the China Earthquake Administration in Sanhe, Hebei Province, where a scaled model of a real 3D printed home was subjected to a series of increasingly powerful simulated quakes.

The model was based on a house built with 3D printing technology in Hebei’s Gucheng County, which has already drawn attention as a local landmark. Many have wondered whether such printed structures are durable enough to withstand quakes that occur in the region. Researchers from Zhejiang University, Dalian University of Technology, and the institute collaborated with Lingtong Technology to put the design to rigorous testing.

The actual house itself could not be moved, so a five-meter-long model was built for the vibration table. The team ran six sets of conditions, each with seven tests, gradually raising the seismic intensity from level six to level nine, which corresponds to the most severe earthquake scenarios. Throughout the process, drones, high-speed cameras, and advanced sensors recorded every crack and shift in the foundation.