Diagonal Tension Testing of 3D Printed Concrete Walls (2026-02)¶

This study investigates the in-plane shear performance of three-dimensional printed concrete (3DPC) wall panels through diagonal tension testing and compares their behavior with conventional masonry systems. Two 600 × 600 × 150 mm 3DPC wall panels were produced using a two-component (2K) extrusion system that injects a liquid accelerator directly at the nozzle, ensuring extended open time for the mixture and rapid setting after extrusion. The specimens were tested under monotonic and cyclic loading to evaluate shear strength, stiffness, deformation, and energy dissipation capacities. The monotonic specimen achieved a peak load of 166.92 kN and a stiffness of 18.28 kN/mm, while the cyclic specimen exhibited a slightly lower strength (161.47 kN) but 38 % higher energy absorption (1085.04 kN·mm), indicating improved ductility under repeated loading. Digital image correlation (DIC) analysis revealed that monotonic loading produced a single diagonal crack, whereas cyclic loading generated distributed microcracks and enhanced strain localization control. Comparative evaluation with masonry walls built from hollow clay brick, clay brick, and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks showed that 3D printed walls achieved 2.8–3.8 times higher load-bearing capacity and more than triple the energy dissipation. These findings demonstrate that 3D concrete printing offers superior mechanical performance, structural efficiency, and seismic resilience compared to conventional masonry. The study establishes a reliable experimental framework and benchmark dataset for developing design guidelines and performance-based standards for large-scale 3D printed structural wall systems.