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Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613949564813312 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Kanyenze, Simba Simon |
| author2 | Combrinck, Riaan |
| author_browse | Combrinck, Riaan Kanyenze, Simba Simon |
| author_facet | Combrinck, Riaan Kanyenze, Simba Simon |
| author_sort | Kanyenze, Simba Simon |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136150 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:16.501Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136150 Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete Kanyenze, Simba Simon Combrinck, Riaan Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Kanyenze, S. S. 2026. Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/894f4265-f799-4862-bcdf-2adb5cf18cd0 Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is a transformative technology poised to modernise the construction industry, yet its structural application is fundamentally limited by the anisotropic nature of the printed material. The weak interlayer bond strength between successively deposited filaments, primarily caused by surface moisture loss during the printing pass time, creates preferential failure planes and compromises the integrity of 3D printed concrete (3DPC). This issue is severely exacerbated by extended pass times, which are a practical inevitability in on-site construction. This dissertation introduces and validates a novel, water-based spraying method as a practical solution to enhance interlayer adhesion. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted to systematically investigate the effects of spraying a fine film of water, various chemical admixtures (retarders, accelerators, bonding agents), and cementitious suspensions (metakaolin and silica fume) at the interlayer. The performance of these treatments was evaluated under both normal and extended pass times through a suite of mechanical, durability, and microstructural characterisation techniques. Furthermore, the fresh-state deformation behavior was tracked in real-time using Digital Image Correlation (DIC), providing crucial data for the development and validation of a novel displacement model. The findings demonstrate that the strategic application of interlayer spraying can effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of construction delays. The timing of the application was found to be critical; spraying water at the end of an extended pass time restored significant bond strength, whereas spraying at the start was counterproductive. The application of pozzolanic suspensions, particularly metakaolin, and specific admixtures such as set retarders and bonding agents, led to improvements in flexural strength and durability by creating a denser, more robust interlayer. The study also underscores the paramount importance of sealed curing to retain moisture, which facilitates more complete hydration and prevents the formation of microcracks. The analytical model, which uses the material's dynamic yield stress, proved to be a robust tool for predicting the buildability and failure mode of 3D printed structures, aligning well with experimental results. This research validates a practical and simple method for improving the performance of 3DPC, contributes to the fundamental understanding of interlayer mechanics, and provides a valuable predictive tool to advance 3DCP from a novel technology into an engineered construction method. Doctoral 2026-04-23T12:29:54Z 2026-04-23T12:29:54Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136150 en Stellenbosch University 308 pages : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Kanyenze, Simba Simon Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title | Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title_full | Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title_fullStr | Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title_short | Utilising a water-based spraying method to improve 3D printed concrete |
| title_sort | utilising a water based spraying method to improve 3d printed concrete |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136150 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kanyenzesimbasimon utilisingawaterbasedsprayingmethodtoimprove3dprintedconcrete |