Research on the Design and Structural Performance of Customized Building Components Based on 3D Printing Technology

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is transitioning from prototyping to a viable construction technology, enabling unprecedented geometric freedom and material efficiency. This paper focuses on the design, manufacturing, and structural performance of customized, non-standard building components fabricated through concrete 3D printing. It investigates the interplay between computational design tools (e.g., topology optimization, generative design) and the constraints and opportunities of the extrusion-based 3D printing process. The mechanical properties of printed concrete, particularly the anisotropic behavior due to layer-by-layer deposition, are critically analyzed. A series of mechanical tests on printed specimens (compression, flexural, and inter-layer shear) is presented and compared with cast-in-place concrete. The research demonstrates that through intelligent design that aligns with the printing path and material properties, 3D printed components can achieve superior strength-to-weight ratios and novel functional integration (e.g., internal cooling channels). This work provides valuable insights for architects and engineers seeking to leverage 3D printing for creating high-performance, architecturally expressive building elements.