A Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Concrete Incorporating Fibers and Fiber Grids (2026-04)¶

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146341

Yang Xia, Wang Jiuyuan, Zhang Zhenming, Tan Yushuang, Wu Gengchen
Journal Article - Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 524, No. 146341

Abstract

This study reported the improvements of 3D-printed concrete by adding fiber and fiber grid, including carbon fiber (CF), glass fiber (GF), basalt fiber (BF), carbon fiber grid (CG), glass fiber grid (GG), and basalt fiber grid (BG). The fibers and fiber grids were incorporated into fresh mixes at mass fractions of 0.4% and 0.8%. The main objective was to examine the mechanical properties and anisotropy characteristics of 3D-printed fiber/fiber grid reinforced concrete against unreinforced concrete. The fiber/fiber grid reinforcement mechanism of the composites was explored using X-ray micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. The test results indicated a positive correlation between fiber content and the interlayer bond strength of 3D-printed concrete. In contrast, the use of fiber grids adversely affected the bond strength. As the fiber mass fraction increases, the compressive strength of 3D-printed concrete increases firstly and then decreases regardless of fiber type, even lower than that of unreinforced sample. Increasing fiber/fiber grid mass fraction has a positive effect on flexural strength. Fiber-reinforced samples show slightly higher flexural strength in comparison with fiber grid-reinforced samples. In addition, 3D-printed samples show significant mechanical anisotropy. The anisotropy of flexural strength is negatively correlated with fiber grid mass fraction but positively correlated with fiber mass fraction. The anisotropy of compressive strength increases firstly with increasing fiber content and then decreases. The microscopic test results indicated that the additions of fiber and fiber grid remarkably increase the total porosity of 3D-printed concrete.

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BibTeX

@article{yang_wang_zhan_tan.2026.ACAo3PCIFaFG,
  author            = "Xia Yang and Jiuyuan Wang and Zhenming Zhang and Yushuang Tan and Gengchen Wu",
  title             = "A Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Concrete Incorporating Fibers and Fiber Grids: Mechanical Properties and Microstructure",
  doi               = "10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146341",
  year              = "2026",
  journal           = "Construction and Building Materials",
  volume            = "524",
  pages             = "146341",
}

Formatted Citation

IEEE

X. Yang, J. Wang, Z. Zhang, Y. Tan and G. Wu, “A Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Concrete Incorporating Fibers and Fiber Grids: Mechanical Properties and Microstructure”, Construction and Building Materials, vol. 524, p. 146341, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146341.

CMOS

Yang, Xia, Jiuyuan Wang, Zhenming Zhang, Yushuang Tan, and Gengchen Wu. “A Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Concrete Incorporating Fibers and Fiber Grids: Mechanical Properties and Microstructure”. Construction and Building Materials 524 (2026): 146341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146341.