Improve Durability and Performance of Concrete 3D Printed Transportation Solutions via Material and Printing Path Design - A Joint Study by OU and TAMU

This collaborative research effort will build upon and expand ongoing work by the PIs to explore laboratory-to-laboratory variability in 3DPC elements, while improving durability and performance via appropriate material and printing path designs. The mechanical and durability properties of externally, visually similar 3D printed concrete elements may differ significantly, when the printing path and material differs. The goal of this project is to advance the durability and longevity of 3D printed concrete elements by controlling the material properties and the printing path in three dimensions — across the area/slice, and height of printed structures. To achieve this goal, the project will pursue the following objectives: (1) investigate the impact of material selection and print path design on the mechanical and durability properties of 3D printed concrete elements, (2) integrate printing path effects into strength design equations and propose optimized paths that enhance strength and minimize crack formation for given micromechanical parameters, (3) experimentally validate the proposed paths through mechanical and durability testing, and (4) reduce dependence on scarcely available materials and introduce locally available alternatives for future infrastructure. A key innovation of this project is the development of alternating path strategies between adjacent slices, utilizing uniaxial, biaxial, and point symmetries to create continuous paths that "heal" weaknesses of preceding layers and enhance interlayer bonding. Identical specimens will be printed and tested at both institutions following unified printing protocols, enabling robust evaluation of printing path effects on structural integrity. Collaborative testing and analysis between the two teams will focus on quantifying interlayer bonding, interfacial properties, and composite action, ensuring a direct feedback loop between computational optimization and experimental validation that is critical for advancing the durability and resilience of 3D printed concrete components.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.sptc.org/cy3-ou-tamu-05

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $279,363.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348306 (CY3-OU-TAMU-05)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Southern Plains Transportation Center

  University of Oklahoma
  202 W Boyd St, Room 213A
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Project Managers:

  Ghasemi, Hamid

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  Zachry Department of Civil Engineering
  3136 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3136
• Principal Investigators:

  Vemuganti, Shreya

  Sideris, Petros

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20270101
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: UTC

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Design; Durability; Mechanical properties; Three dimensional printing
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01975709
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Southern Plains Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348306 (CY3-OU-TAMU-05)
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 6 2026 9:08AM