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A Prediction Model of Interlayer Bond Strength for 3D-Printed Concrete Considering Printing Interval and Environmental Effects (2026-03)

10.3390/ma19071377

Xu Wenbin, Xu Zihao,  Liu Tao, Ouyang Jun, Wang Juan,  Wang Hailong, Xu Wenqiang
Journal Article - Materials, Vol. 19, Iss. 7, No. 1377

Abstract

Interlayer bond strength is critical for ensuring the safety and durability of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) structures. However, there remains a lack of real-time prediction methods addressing interlayer performance under the combined effects of interval time and environmental factors during the in situ printing process. To address this issue, this study conducted experiments considering various printing interval times and environmental conditions, incorporating monitoring of dielectric constant and water evaporation, alongside interlayer splitting tensile tests. By integrating the SHAP interpretability algorithm with nonlinear regression analysis, the results indicate that the printing interval time is the dominant factor inducing interlayer strength decay (with a contribution rate of 68.6%), while relative humidity emerges as the primary environmental variable (with a contribution rate of 21.3%). Mechanism analysis reveals that prolonged printing intervals intensify the hydration of the lower deposited layer, leading to reduced interfacial moisture content and loss of plasticity. Furthermore, environmental evaporation significantly regulates this process, with high-humidity environments notably mitigating the moisture loss and strength reduction caused by time delays. Based on the correlation mechanism between moisture and strength, a dimensionless general prediction model for 3DPC interlayer strength was established, incorporating printing interval time and an evaporation index (goodness of fit, R2 = 0.96). Consequently, a digital twin quality inversion scheme based on companion specimen monitoring and printing timestamps was proposed. This study quantifies the intrinsic relationships among printing interval time, environmental conditions, and interlayer strength, offering a novel approach for determining the construction window and achieving non-destructive quality prediction for 3DPC in complex environments.

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0 Citations

BibTeX
@article{xu_xu_liu_ouya.2026.APMoIBSf3PCCPIaEE,
  author            = "Wenbin Xu and Zihao Xu and Tao Liu and Jun Ouyang and Juan Wang and Hailong Wang and Wenqiang Xu",
  title             = "A Prediction Model of Interlayer Bond Strength for 3D-Printed Concrete Considering Printing Interval and Environmental Effects",
  doi               = "10.3390/ma19071377",
  year              = "2026",
  journal           = "Materials",
  volume            = "19",
  number            = "7",
  pages             = "1377",
}
Formatted Citation

W. Xu, “A Prediction Model of Interlayer Bond Strength for 3D-Printed Concrete Considering Printing Interval and Environmental Effects”, Materials, vol. 19, no. 7, p. 1377, 2026, doi: 10.3390/ma19071377.

Xu, Wenbin, Zihao Xu, Tao Liu, Jun Ouyang, Juan Wang, Hailong Wang, and Wenqiang Xu. “A Prediction Model of Interlayer Bond Strength for 3D-Printed Concrete Considering Printing Interval and Environmental Effects”. Materials 19, no. 7 (2026): 1377. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071377.