University of Bristol Tests 3D Concrete Printing for Earthquake Safety

In recent years, 3D concrete printing has increasingly established itself as a legitimate technology in the construction industry. It can be used to produce buildings faster and more cost-effectively, so experts see great potential in 3D concrete printing to address housing shortages or construct sustainable buildings in difficult environments. So, researchers at the University of Bristol are now investigating how a 3D printed concrete building would withstand an earthquake.

Project leaders Professor Anastasios Sextos and Dr. Raffaele de Risi saw a fundamental research gap in additive manufacturing, which they want to address by collaborating with the University of Bristol. According to them, the experiment aims to “fill the knowledge gap surrounding the dynamic response of 3D-printed units, particularly how they perform under recorded and simulated seismic events.” To do this, the researchers are using the UK’s largest vibrating plate, on which the team is testing an almost life-size 3D printed house made of concrete.

The model house on the UK’s largest vibratory plate

Why Is Research Important?

Additive manufacturing in the construction industry promises the fast and sustainable production of durable and cost-effective buildings. However, the special manufacturing technology differs fundamentally from conventional construction methods due to the layer-by-layer application of the printed material. How such buildings react to seismic forces has not been sufficiently investigated, according to the research team. Additive manufacturing would produce new variables that exceed previous knowledge on earthquake resilience in buildings. Unique material properties and geometries through printing processes make predictions even more complicated.