Performance of Lightweight, Reinforced, and Assemblable 3D-Printed Concrete Columns with Low-Carbon Engineered Cementitious Composites (2026-01)¶

10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122133

van Nguyen Vuong, Jie Cheah, Lao Junying, Huanyu Zhao, Qian Shunzhi
Journal Article - Engineering Structures, Vol. 352, No. 122133

Abstract

This study proposes a novel approach to fabricating lightweight, reinforced, and modular concrete columns via 3D concrete printing using low-carbon engineered cementitious composites (ECC). Two printable mixtures, incorporating only 20 % cement in the binder system and two polyethene (PE) fibre dosages (0 % and 1 %), are optimised for extrusion-based printability, structural performance, and sustainability. A sinusoidal infill geometry is employed to facilitate reinforcement placement, enhance load transfer, and minimise material usage. Material characterisation includes fresh state flowability and rheology, as well as compressive and tensile testing. Uniaxial compression tests on assembled columns indicate that the fibre-reinforced ECC column increases peak load by 24.7 % and enhances ductility compared to the fibre-free counterpart. Comparative analysis with traditional reinforced-concrete columns cast with 3D-printed concrete permanent formworks reveals that the proposed column system achieved higher structural efficiency (55 % higher automation in fabrication, 30 % and over 200 % higher in compressive strength and strain at peak, respectively) and up to 50 % lower environmental impact. These results highlight the potential of integrated material-geometry-process design strategies to advance scalable, sustainable, and high-performance structural elements in automated construction.

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BibTeX

@article{nguy_jie_lao_huan.2026.PoLRaA3PCCwLCECC,
  author            = "Vuong van Nguyen and Cheah Chun Jie and Junying Lao and Zhao Huanyu and Shunzhi Qian",
  title             = "Performance of Lightweight, Reinforced, and Assemblable 3D-Printed Concrete Columns with Low-Carbon Engineered Cementitious Composites",
  doi               = "10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122133",
  year              = "2026",
  journal           = "Engineering Structures",
  volume            = "352",
  pages             = "122133",
}

Formatted Citation

IEEE

V. van Nguyen, C. C. Jie, J. Lao, Z. Huanyu and S. Qian, “Performance of Lightweight, Reinforced, and Assemblable 3D-Printed Concrete Columns with Low-Carbon Engineered Cementitious Composites”, Engineering Structures, vol. 352, p. 122133, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122133.

CMOS

Nguyen, Vuong van, Cheah Chun Jie, Junying Lao, Zhao Huanyu, and Shunzhi Qian. “Performance of Lightweight, Reinforced, and Assemblable 3D-Printed Concrete Columns with Low-Carbon Engineered Cementitious Composites”. Engineering Structures 352 (2026): 122133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122133.