A numerical model of 3D concrete printing

3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) is increasingly drawing attention in the construction sector and could be the key to achieve a fully automatized and more sustainable construction process. However, before a large-scale adoption takes place, it is necessary to develop reliable analytical and numerical tools, able to provide a better understanding of the printing process and predict, in a design framework, its out-comes. In this work the first steps are presented of the development of a numerical model to simulate the extrusion and layer deposition phases of 3DCP. The model assumes that fresh concrete can be treated as a homogenous fluid, and it is validated by reproducing the printing of three rectilinear layers. The results, in terms of the pressure field and of layers deformation, can be useful to control the printing process and the final “quality” of the printed object.