Design and Development of a Nozzle Assembly for 3D Concrete Printing Applications (2025-07)¶

This study focuses on the design and development of a nozzle for 3D concrete printing, with the goal of achieving smooth concrete flow, uniform layer deposition, and better print quality. The nozzle was designed using CAD tools and its performance was studied through analytical calculations and computational fluid dynamics simulations to understand the flow behavior inside the nozzle. The velocity profile revealed that concrete enters the nozzle at a high speed of 19.89 m/s, reduces to 0.58 m/s in the wider middle section, and then increases again to 18.33 m/s at the outlet. A pressure drop of -398.2 was noted from the inlet to the middle, which supports controlled re-acceleration of flow. These changes in velocity and pressure help reduce the risk of blockage and support proper extrusion during printing. The results show that the shape and internal design of the nozzle play a key role in controlling concrete flow, improving layer bonding, and maintaining structural stability. This work offers a useful design approach for enhancing the performance and reliability of 3D concrete printing in construction applications.