In a world-first experiment, researchers at the University of Bristol have tested the earthquake resilience of 3D printed concrete structures using the UK’s largest shaking table.
Led by professor Anastasios Sextos and associate professor Dr Raffaele De Risi, the project estimates how 3D printed homes perform under seismic stress. The shaking table at the university’s Soil Foundation Structure Interaction Laboratory (SoFSI) simulates real-world earthquake motions on full-scale structures, representing a major stride in civil engineering research.
“Testing a real-scale structure is a dramatic leap forward to see if it can be used in earthquake prone countries,” professor Sextos told BBC News.
The experiment is focused on a quasi-real-scale concrete unit made using robotic 3D printing, a process in which buildings are created layer by layer from a digital blueprint. The structure was equipped with accelerometers and displacement sensors to monitor cracking, movement, and failure points as it endured a series of increasingly intense simulated quakes.
“Insights from this study will help identify design parameters that optimize seismic performance, such as layer bonding strategies and reinforcement integration,” Dr De Risi told The Engineer. “Ultimately, we hope to validate whether 3D-printed concrete can meet current safety standards for seismic applications.”
The implications of the study are far-reaching. With 3D printed housing marketed as a sustainable, efficient, and budget-friendly solution, it is vital to make sure it is also completely safe for disaster-prone and low-income areas. The data gathered in this experiment will enable engineers to create new safety standards and building codes specific to additive construction technologies.
“By testing the seismic resilience of 3D printed concrete for the first time, we’re not just exploring the future of construction, we’re helping shape a safer, smarter, and more adaptive built environment,” concluded Dr De Risi.
