Effects of mixture ingredients on extrudability of concrete in Contour Crafting

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extrudability (flow-ability and shape-stability) of concrete mixtures by using contour crafting (CC) as an automated construction process.

Design/methodology/approach

Several experiments have been performed for flow-ability and shape-stability of concrete mixtures. Experimental results were compared to understand significant factors and their interactions. After developing the empirical model for flow-ability, the model was validated.

Findings

The experimental investigation of varied combination of concrete components developed a mixture within constrains of the CC nozzle and improved the quality of the extruded part.

Originality/value

Several experimental samples were fabricated using CC, and the derived empirical model was validated after more than 700 h of work.

Citation

Zareiyan, B. and Khoshnevis, B. (2018), "Effects of mixture ingredients on extrudability of concrete in Contour Crafting", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 24 No. 4, pp. 722-730. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-01-2017-0006