Quantification of Seismic Performance Parameters for Single-Story 3D Printed Concrete Buildings Based on Collapse Criteria (2026-03)¶

The advent of three-dimensional (3D) extrusion-based concrete printing, also termed additive concrete construction, represents a potential paradigm shift in the construction industry and structural engineering. Nevertheless, the seismic design of 3D printed concrete (3DPC) buildings remains an underdeveloped field. This study contributes towards addressing this gap by proposing a seismic force resisting system (SFRS) adopting a recently developed 3DPC structural wall design, termed RC-framed 3DPC Wall, and by quantifying major seismic performance parameters of this system per the FEMA P695 procedure, such as the response modification factor, required for the seismic design of conventional structures via the equivalent lateral force procedure of ASCE 7-22. FEMA P695 evaluations were carried out on 30 archetypal structures (or 60 SFRSs, one per horizontal direction), and seismic performance factors were selected based on acceptable probabilities of collapse. The evaluation process included static monotonic and cyclic push-over analyses and incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs). A detailed numerical model based on shell and frame elements was used for static push-over analyses and a simplified numerical model based on truss elements was used for IDAs. Based on the evaluation, a response modification factor of 1.5, an overstrength factor of 2.7, and a deflection amplification factor of 1.9 are recommended for the design of the proposed SFRS. These values closely align with those of ordinary reinforced masonry shear walls. It is noted that the study was limited by the scarcity of laboratory test data concerning the performance of 3DPC wall structures to in-plane horizontal load, which may have led to conservative estimates of the aforementioned seismic performance factors.