Home >> Application >> By Material >> Concrete & Rock >> 3D‑Printed Concrete Basic Mechanical Properties Test - Compression, Flexural, Shear

3D‑Printed Concrete Basic Mechanical Properties Test - Compression, Flexural, Shear

Share:

3D printed concrete is a cement-based building material used for 3D printing construction. It mainly uses cement as the primary binder and fibers as the main reinforcement, and is prepared by adding coarse and fine aggregates, composite retarders, and composite shrinkage compensators.  


In 2017, Eindhoven University of Technology completed the world's first 3D printed concrete bridge. The city of Eindhoven in the Netherlands planned to complete the first 3D printed concrete house suitable for living by 2019. In 2024, China National Building Material Institute won the Gold Medal at the 49th Geneva International Invention Exhibition for the "Automatic Vertical Reinforcement Technology Based on 3D Printed Concrete." In 2022, Bao'an in Shenzhen completed the world's largest 3D printed concrete green park.  


3D printed concrete technology combines 3D printing with technologies from the ready-mix concrete field, creating a new applied technology. The main idea is to model and segment concrete components in 3D on a computer to generate three-dimensional data, then extrude the prepared concrete mixture through a nozzle according to a set program, controlled mechanically, to print the components. The core of robotic 3D concrete printing lies in algorithm design, which allows the movement of the robotic arm and the printing paths to be quickly generated through independently developed algorithms.  

3D printed concrete needs to meet basic requirements like fluidity, extrudability, buildability, setting characteristics, and mechanical performance, with extrudability, buildability, and setting characteristics being unique features of 3D printed concrete.


UnitedTest supplies testing machines for 3D printed concrete per T/CBMF 183: cube & axial compression, elastic modulus, four-point flexural, splitting tensile, interfacial bond and double-shear tests.


Key Test Methods for 3D‑Printed Concrete Basic Mechanical Properties

1, Cubic Compressive Strength TestMeasure cubic compressive strength of 3D‑printed concrete in X, Y, Z three printing directions, reflecting directional compression‑bearing capacity of printed specimens.
Test EquipmentRecommend UnitedTest Compression testing machine comply with ASTM C39 Standard for test methods of physical and mechanical properties of concrete.
Test Specimen infoEach test direction uses 6 pieces. Specimen cross‑section shall contain at least 3 inter‑layer interfaces and 2 inter‑filament interfaces.
Mandatory Stipulations
  • Loading rate: 0.3‑1.0 MPa/s. Adjust by strength level:<30 MPa (0.3‑0.5 MPa/s); 30‑60 MPa (0.5‑0.8 MPa/s); ≥60 MPa (0.8‑1.0 MPa/s).

  • Calculation formula:(f_cc=F/b^2).

  • Data treatment: 6 replicates per direction. Reject outliers exceeding ±15 % of mean value. Test invalid if remaining valid specimens less than 3. Result precision: 0.1 MPa.

Test requirementNeed parallel test on cast‑in‑place reference specimens from same concrete batch; report shall clearly mark loading direction (X/Y/Z); apply size‑conversion coefficient for non‑standard specimen sizes.
2, Axial Compressive Strength TestDetermine prism axial compressive strength along X, Y, Z directions for 3D‑printed concrete.
Test EquipmentRecommend UnitedTest Compression testing machine comply with ASTM C39 Standard for test methods of physical and mechanical properties of concrete.
Test Specimen infoPrism specimens: 100 mm×100 mm×300 mm for max aggregate size ≤5 mm; 150 mm×150 mm×300 mm for aggregate>5 mm. 6 specimens for each loading axial direction.
Mandatory Stipulations
  • Loading rate range and grading rules are identical to cubic compressive test.

  • Calculation formula: (f_cp=F/b^2).

  • Data processing rule same as cubic compressive test, precision 0.1 MPa.

3, Static Compressive Modulus of Elasticity Test Measure static compressive elastic modulus E_c of 3D‑printed concrete prism along X/Y/Z directions.
Test EquipmentCompression testing machine, displacement measuring instruments (micrometer dial gauge / displacement sensor / resistance strain gauge), deformation measuring frame.
Test Specimen infoSame prism dimension as axial compressive test. 12 specimens per test direction: 6 for axial compressive strength determination, another 6 for elastic modulus measurement.
Mandatory Stipulations

Formula: E_c = (Fₐ − F₀)/A × L/Δn, with Δn = εₐ − ε₀; report to 100 MPa.

First determine f_cp (6 specimens, per 6.2). Then: load to F₀ at 0.5 MPa, hold 60 s, read deformation within the next 30 s; load to Fₐ at ⅓ f_cp (rate as 6.2.5 f), hold 60 s, read in 30 s. 

If the difference between the two sides / their mean > 20 %, re‑centre and repeat; if it cannot be reduced, the test is invalid. Perform ≥ 2 pre‑loading cycles at the same rates before the final readings. 

4. Flexural Strength (Modulus of Rupture) TestEvaluate flexural tensile capacity of 3D‑printed concrete beam‑shaped specimen under bending load for X/Y/Z loading directions.
Test EquipmentFour‑point bending test setup on material testing machine
Test Specimen info
  • 70.7 mm×70.7 mm cross‑section: length 300 mm

  • 100 mm×100 mm cross‑section: length 400 mm

  • 150 mm×150 mm cross‑section: length 550 mm 6 specimens for each loading direction. Surface defects in middle‑1/3 span are restricted.

Mandatory Stipulations

Four‑point bending; supports/heads set within ±1 mm, contact levelled. Support span / loading span: 70.7×70.7×300 → 212.1 / 70.7; 100×100×400 → 300 / 100; 150×150×550 → 450 / 150 mm.

Loading rate tiered by the cube Y‑direction compressive strength: < 30 → 0.02–0.05; 30–60 → 0.05–0.08; ≥ 60 → 0.08–0.10 MPa/s. 

Record failure load and the fracture location on the bottom edge.

Formula: f_f = F·L / (b·h²) (L = support span, b = width, h = height), to 0.1 MPa.

Test requirementPerform companion test for cast concrete specimens; record fracture location; dimension conversion coefficient for non‑standard sizes.

5. Splitting Tensile Strength 

and Interfacial Bond Strength Test

Two functions on cubic specimens:
  • Splitting tensile strength: intrinsic splitting tensile property of 3D‑printed concrete in X/Y/Z directions.

  • Interfacial bond strength: bond performance of inter‑layer or inter‑filament printing interfaces.

Test Equipment

Compression test machine, arc‑shaped cushion blocks and strips, positioning fixture

3D‑Printed Concrete Basic Mechanical Properties Test - Compression, Flexural, Shear

Test Specimen infoCubic specimens meeting cross‑section requirements. 6 replicates for each test direction (splitting tensile); 6 replicates for each interface type (inter‑layer / inter‑filament bond strength).
Mandatory Stipulations

Rate tiered by cube Y‑direction strength: 0.02–0.05 / 0.05–0.08 / 0.08–0.10 MPa/s (same as flexure).

  • Splitting tensile: load applied at the middle of opposite faces, deliberately avoiding interfaces. Loading along X → split plane ⟂ inter‑layer interfaces and ∥ inter‑filament interfaces; loading along Y or Z → split plane ⟂ both interface families.

  • Interfacial bond: load applied exactly at the interface (specimen oriented/marked so the interface is the split plane): loading along X → inter‑layer bond; along Z → inter‑filament bond. Record if the fracture plane is not perpendicular to the bearing face.

Formula: f_ts (or f_b) = 2F/(πA) = 0.637 F/A (A = split‑plane area), to 0.1 MPa.

Test requirement

Carry out cast cubic reference specimen splitting test; record if fracture surface is non‑perpendicular to bearing surface;

 report must distinguish between bulk splitting tensile result and interface bond‑strength result.

6. Shear Strength Test 

(Double‑sided Shear Method)

Measure shear strength of 3D‑printed concrete, focusing on shear performance of inter‑layer and inter‑filament printing interfaces.
Test Equipment

Compression testing Machine with one spherical seat plus a double‑shear device: upper and lower blades must move only vertically, no lateral play; 

blade width ≈ 1/10 of the nominal specimen height h, outer‑edge spacing of the upper blades = H, offset a between upper and lower blades 0–1 mm.

3D‑Printed Concrete Basic Mechanical Properties Test - Compression, Flexural, Shear

Test Specimen infoRectangular prism specimens:
  • 70.7 mm×70.7 mm cross‑section: length 200 mm

  • 100 mm×100 mm cross‑section: length 300 mm

  • 150 mm×150 mm cross‑section: length 450 mm 6 specimens for each target interface type.

Mandatory Stipulations

Shear device axis aligned with the machine load line, spherical seat adjusted for uniform contact; load continuously at 0.06–0.10 MPa/s (or 0.06–0.1 mm/min), stop throttling near failure, record max load.

If the failure surface is not the intended plane, the test is invalid.

Formula: f_v = F/(2·b·h) (two shear planes, b × h each; F = failure load), to 0.1 MPa.

Test requirement

Conduct parallel shear test for cast concrete specimens; align fixture central axis with machine load line;

strictly check failure plane after each test; apply conversion coefficient for non‑standard specimen dimension.


What I'd flag as most important in practice:

Anisotropy is the whole point. A single "compressive strength" is meaningless here — you report a triplet (X, Y, Z) for strength, modulus and flexure, plus interface‑specific bond and shear values.

Interfaces must be engineered into the specimen (≥ 3 inter‑layer, ≥ 2 inter‑filament; centred and symmetric) — a specimen cut without interfaces does not represent printed concrete.

Cast control specimens are mandatory for every method; the printed‑vs‑cast gap is the real quality signal.

Two curing regimes (standard + same‑condition) run in parallel, because printed elements are usually cured on site, not in a fog room.

Cutting is a critical step, not a formality: discard ≥ 2 nozzle diameters at the ends, cut 1 d before testing at early ages, keep specimens curing after cutting, and respect the 1.5 mm / 0.1 mm / 1° tolerances.

Invalidity rules are strict (15 % deviation rule, fracture‑location rule for flexure, 20 % centring rule for modulus, wrong failure plane for shear) — plan for more than the minimum 6 specimens per group.


Keywords: 3D printed concrete testing machine, 3D printing concrete testing equipment · concrete compression testing machine · electro-hydraulic servo universal testing machine · concrete flexural strength test machine · concrete splitting tensile test fixture · concrete elastic modulus testing machine · double shear test device concrete · anisotropic concrete testing equipment · T/CBMF 183-2022 test method, testing machine for 3D‑printed concrete X‑Y‑Z directional strength per T/CBMF‑183‑2022, 3D‑printed concrete interfacial bond strength test fixture, double‑sided shear test jig for 3D‑printed concrete, static compressive elastic modulus test setup for 3D‑printed concrete, 3D‑printed concrete anisotropic compression flexure splitting tensile test system, lab equipment for 3D‑printed concrete inter‑layer inter‑filament interface test, universal testing machine for 3D‑printed concrete China association standard

Related products and device

UnitedTest Hydraulic Compression Strength Testing Machine to test cement, brick and concrete is offered by United Test. Use hydraulic power driving, intelligent measuring and control meter to collect and process data, consist of frame, oil source, control system, test fixture. Accuracy class 1, max. test load 2000KN, 3000KN.

YES series Compressive Strength Testing Equipment to test cement, brick and concrete is offered by United Test. Range 1000KN, 2000KN, and 3000KN, these strength testing equipment are extremely handy and are easy to use for testing cement, concrete and mortar cubes.

Compression and Flexural Integrated Testing Machine used for both flexural strength tests of concrete specimens and compressive strength tests of building materials such as cement, mortar, and red bricks. It can also perform compressive and flexural strength tests of cement mortar.

Related Standard

ISO 1920-4 Hardened Concrete Strength Test - Compressive, Flexural & Tensile Splitting –

ISO 1920-4 Testing of concrete — Part 4: Strength of hardened concrete

ISO 1920‑4 measuring mechanical strength of hardened concrete. It consolidates three core strength‑testing procedures: compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile splitting strength of hardened concrete. covers specimens, apparatus, testing procedures, calculation formulas, failure assessment, precision data and complete test‑report requirements. 

ISO 4012 Concrete Compression Testing - Cube, Cylinder & Prism –

ISO 4012 Concrete‑Determination of compressive strength of test specimens

ISO 4012 define method for crushing hardened concrete specimens in uniaxial compression and calculating strength from maximum load divided by loaded area. it was replaced by ISO 1920‑4.

ASTM C1176 Vebe Vibrating-Table Test — Roller-Compacted Concrete Cylinders –

ASTM C1176 Standard Practice for Making Roller-Compacted Concrete in Cylinder Molds Using a Vibrating Table

ASTM C1176 is a Practice (specimen-preparation procedure), not a test method that produces a number in itself. It defines laboratory procedures for fabricating 150 mm × 300 mm cylindrical test specimens for stiff, zero‑slump roller‑compacted concrete (RCC) using a vibrating table plus static surcharge load.

ASTM C1170 Vibrating Table Roller-Compacted Concrete Test –

ASTM C1170 Standard Test Method for Determining Consistency and Density of Roller-Compacted Concrete Using a Vibrating Table

ASTM C1170 measure Vebe consistency and hardened density of zero‑slump roller‑compacted concrete (RCC) by means of a vibrating table and weighted surcharge assembly. Conventional slump tests cannot characterize extremely dry, stiff, no‑slump RCC mixtures, so this vibration‑based Vebe‑type test fills that gap.

ASTM C39 Compressive Strength Test of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens –

ASTM C39 / C39M : Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens

ASTM C39 determines the compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens such as molded cylinders and drilled cores. It is limited to concrete having a unit weight in excess of 50 lb/ft3 (800 kg/m3).
A compressive axial load is applied to molded cylinders or cores until failure occurs. The compressive strength of the specimen is calculated by dividing the maximum load achieved during the test by the cross-sectional area of the specimen. The results of this test method are used as a basis for quality control of concrete.

ASTM C78 Flexural Strength of Concrete Beams –

ASTM C78 is the standard method for determining the flexural strength (modulus of rupture) of concrete specimens using a simple beam subjected to third-point loading. It is mainly applied to concrete for slabs and pavements. 

A plain concrete beam of specified dimensions is supported near its ends. Two equal loads are applied at the third points of the span (i.e., at points one-third of the span length from each support). This configuration creates a region of constant maximum moment and zero shear in the middle third of the span. The test continues until the beam fractures. The flexural strength is calculated from the maximum load at failure, the span length, and the beam's cross-sectional dimensions. 

FAQ about the testing for 3D printed concrete

Q1. What is T/CBMF 183-2022 / T/CCPA 33-2022?

It is the China Building Materials Federation / China Concrete & Cement Products Association standard "Test methods for basic mechanical properties of 3D printed concrete". Drafted by Southeast University and Hebei University of Technology, it was reviewed in December 2021, issued on 2022-06-10 and became effective on 2022-10-10. It covers terms and definitions, general requirements, specimen preparation and curing, and six mechanical test methods for 3D printed concrete used in construction.


Q2. How is it related to GB/T 50081?

GB/T 50081 (Standard for test methods of concrete physical and mechanical properties) is the normative parent method. All six tests in this standard state that "test instruments shall comply with GB/T 50081", and each test requires companion cast specimens from the same batch to be tested first per GB/T 50081 and reported alongside the printed results. The 3D printing standard adds what GB/T 50081 does not have: directional (X/Y/Z) loading, mandatory interface content in specimens, printing/cutting rules and interface bond and shear tests.


Q3. What are the X, Y and Z directions?

X = direction of print head travel (print path); Y = horizontal direction perpendicular to the print path; Z = vertical layer-stacking direction. Every mechanical property is reported as a directional triplet, because extrusion-based printing produces anisotropic behaviour.


Q4. Which six test methods does the standard contain?

  1. Cube compressive strength (f_cc)

  2. Axial (prism) compressive strength (f_cp)

  3. Static compressive elastic modulus (E_c)

  4. Flexural strength, four-point bending (f_f)

  5. Splitting tensile strength (f_ts) and interfacial bond strength (f_b)

  6. Shear strength by double-shear method (f_v)


Q5. How large must a 3D printed concrete specimen be?

The cross-section follows the printed filament dimensions: below 35 mm filament width or 20 mm thickness → 70.7 × 70.7 mm; 35–50 mm / 20–30 mm → 100 × 100 mm; 50–75 mm / 30–45 mm → 150 × 150 mm. Prisms for axial compression and modulus are 100 × 100 × 300 mm (max aggregate ≤ 5 mm) or 150 × 150 × 300 mm (aggregate > 5 mm).


Q6. What is the difference between (inter-layer) and (inter-filament)?

Inter-layer = the horizontal contact between vertically stacked layers. Inter-filament = the vertical contact between side-by-side filaments in the same layer. They are separate weak planes and are tested separately in both bond and shear tests.


Q7. How many specimens are needed?

Six per loading direction for compression, axial compression, flexure, splitting tensile and shear; twelve per axis for elastic modulus (six to establish f_cp, six for the modulus measurement). Six per interface type for interfacial bond.


Q8. What testing machine capacity is needed?

Capacity is driven by specimen size and strength grade. A 150 × 150 mm cube at 60 MPa needs roughly 1,350 kN of ultimate load plus margin, so a 2000 kN frame covers most printed concretes at 150 mm and a 1000 kN frame is ample for 100 mm and 70.7 mm sections. For a mixed laboratory, a 2000 kN electro-hydraulic servo compression testing machine is the safest single-machine choice; add a 300 kN class machine or a universal frame for 70.7 mm cubes, flexure beams and shear prisms where loads are much lower.


Q9. Why is a servo-controlled (closed-loop) machine important here?

Because the standard specifies stress-rate loading in MPa/s with distinct tiers, and the modulus test requires repeated load-hold-read cycles between 0.5 MPa and ⅓ f_cp. A manual or open-loop machine cannot hold 60 s at a defined stress and return repeatably to the same load level; a servo-controlled electro-hydraulic machine does this automatically and logs the load-deformation data.


Q10. Which fixtures does UnitedTest need to supply for full coverage?

  • Compression bearing plates (hardened, with centring aids) — cube and axial compression

  • Deformation measuring frame with 150 mm gauge length, dial gauges or LVDTs (or 150 mm strain-gauge option) — elastic modulus

  • Four-point flexural fixture with adjustable supports and loading heads at 212.1/300/450 mm spans — flexure

  • Splitting tensile jig: arc-shaped pad + bearing strip + positioning frame — splitting tensile and interfacial bond

  • Double-shear device: upper/lower blades, vertical motion only, blade width ≈ h/10, 0–1 mm offset, with a spherical seat in the load line — shear


Q11: What functions should test software have for T/CBMF‑183‑2022 3D‑printed concrete mechanical testing?

Support X‑Y‑Z direction labelling for each test dataset;

Built‑in calculation formulas for cube compression, axial compression, elastic modulus, flexural strength, splitting‑tensile / interfacial bond strength, double‑sided shear strength;

Automatic outlier elimination logic (remove data point if deviation > 15 % of group mean, judge test validity when remaining valid specimens less than 3);

Generate test reports compatible with standard Appendix A template, record print parameters, interface count, curing history, parallel cast‑specimen results.

UnitedTest test control & analysis software includes pre‑programmed T/CBMF‑183‑2022 report template for direct export of lab test documents.

< Previous: None

> Next: None

Require More Customized Solutions?

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you
Customize Now

Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.