Quantification of plastic shrinkage and plastic shrinkage cracking of the 3D printable concretes using 2D digital image correlation

There is great potential for 3D concrete printing to considerably transform the construction industry. An important step toward the transfer of this new technology into practical application is to gain the ability to control and mitigate plastic shrinkage of printed elements as well as related cracking. These phenomena occur at a very early age after the deposition of concrete due to the absence of formwork in the first place. The cracks can negatively influence durability, serviceability, and aesthetics of the printed structures. In this context, it is an important task to quantify plastic shrinkage of printed concrete and to capture the formation and propagation of cracks. The research at hand presents an easy-to-use, inexpensive experimental setup for quantifying the magnitude of plastic shrinkage and an accurate method for assessing plastic shrinkage cracking by means of 2D digital image correlation.

Automated summary

There is a significant potential for 3D concrete printing to revolutionize the construction industry. To apply this technology practically, it is crucial to address and control the plastic shrinkage and associated cracking. This research introduces an affordable experimental setup and an accurate method for quantifying plastic shrinkage and evaluating shrinkage cracking using 2D digital image correlation.