Overview

• The Soil Foundation Structure Interaction Laboratory at the University of Bristol conducted the world’s first quasi-real-scale seismic test on a 3D-printed concrete house.
• Researchers used the UK’s largest shaking table, rated for 50 metric tons, to apply a sequence of increasing ground motions mimicking medium-magnitude earthquakes.
• The printed unit was outfitted with accelerometers, displacement sensors and other gauges to capture real-time data on cracking, movement and potential failure points.
• Analysis will compare the seismic performance of 3D-printed and traditional concrete and validate computational models predicting structural response.
• Insights from the study are expected to guide the creation of seismic safety standards and building codes for additive manufacturing in earthquake-prone regions.