Digital Design and Fabrication of a 3D Concrete Printed Funicular Spatial Structure

In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D concrete printing technologies have been increasingly used in the field of construction engineering. Several 3D concrete printing bridges were built with post-tensioning technology. However, the current post-tensioned 3D concrete printing projects are mostly in a single direction of force. There are fewer cases of concrete printing funicular spatial structures, and most funicular spatial structures are currently manufactured by casting-in-place in formwork. This paper presents a case of manufacturing spatial 3D concrete printed structures using post-tensioned technology with multiple force directions. The design of the non-parallel printing path, the joints between single units, and the post-tensioned steel cable system in the design and research process are discussed. A funicular spatial structure is built, and a method of manufacturing 3DCP funicular spatial structure is proposed.