Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces

This paper proposes a method to improve the interlayer bonding strength in 3D-printed mortars by spraying bacteria and cement solutions (biocement) into the interlayer surfaces. The effectiveness of this approach is assessed using splitting strength tests. SEM and X-ray mapping of calcium carbonate...

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Main Authors: Yifang Cao, Luming Shen, Abhijit Mukherjee, Ali Abbas, Daniel Dias-da-Costa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2521104
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author Yifang Cao
Luming Shen
Abhijit Mukherjee
Ali Abbas
Daniel Dias-da-Costa
author_facet Yifang Cao
Luming Shen
Abhijit Mukherjee
Ali Abbas
Daniel Dias-da-Costa
author_sort Yifang Cao
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes a method to improve the interlayer bonding strength in 3D-printed mortars by spraying bacteria and cement solutions (biocement) into the interlayer surfaces. The effectiveness of this approach is assessed using splitting strength tests. SEM and X-ray mapping of calcium carbonate crystals formed on the interlayers is used to investigate the synergistic effect of biocement in the bonding. A competing mechanism between the increased water content from spraying the biocement solution (which reduces strength) and the biocementation (which increases strength) is identified. The interlayer bond strength is shown to increase up to nearly six times for a spray application of bacteria and cementation solution at printing intervals of 120 min. This advanced manufacturing approach has benefits and implications on the load-bearing strength of 3D-printed vertical structures.HighlightsThis paper proposes a bacteria spraying technique to improve 3D-printed mortar performance.Biocementation of sprayed bacteria and cementation solutions enhances interlayer strength.A competing mechanism between higher water content and biocementation is identified.Biocementation can potentially increase interlayer strength by nearly six times.Benefits and implications for 3D printed vertical infrastructure in digital construction sector.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1745-2759
1745-2767
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Virtual and Physical Prototyping
spelling doaj-art-1e6c477cf99f4e32976bdc030471f91d2025-08-20T03:29:40ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirtual and Physical Prototyping1745-27591745-27672025-12-0120110.1080/17452759.2025.2521104Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfacesYifang Cao0Luming Shen1Abhijit Mukherjee2Ali Abbas3Daniel Dias-da-Costa4School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaSchool of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaSchool of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, AustraliaSchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaSchool of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaThis paper proposes a method to improve the interlayer bonding strength in 3D-printed mortars by spraying bacteria and cement solutions (biocement) into the interlayer surfaces. The effectiveness of this approach is assessed using splitting strength tests. SEM and X-ray mapping of calcium carbonate crystals formed on the interlayers is used to investigate the synergistic effect of biocement in the bonding. A competing mechanism between the increased water content from spraying the biocement solution (which reduces strength) and the biocementation (which increases strength) is identified. The interlayer bond strength is shown to increase up to nearly six times for a spray application of bacteria and cementation solution at printing intervals of 120 min. This advanced manufacturing approach has benefits and implications on the load-bearing strength of 3D-printed vertical structures.HighlightsThis paper proposes a bacteria spraying technique to improve 3D-printed mortar performance.Biocementation of sprayed bacteria and cementation solutions enhances interlayer strength.A competing mechanism between higher water content and biocementation is identified.Biocementation can potentially increase interlayer strength by nearly six times.Benefits and implications for 3D printed vertical infrastructure in digital construction sector.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.25211043D Printingcementinterlayerhealingbacteriabiocementation
spellingShingle Yifang Cao
Luming Shen
Abhijit Mukherjee
Ali Abbas
Daniel Dias-da-Costa
Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
3D Printing
cement
interlayer
healing
bacteria
biocementation
title Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
title_full Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
title_fullStr Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
title_short Improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3D-printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
title_sort improvement of the interlayer bonding strength in a 3d printed mortar with biocement sprayed into interlayer surfaces
topic 3D Printing
cement
interlayer
healing
bacteria
biocementation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2521104
work_keys_str_mv AT yifangcao improvementoftheinterlayerbondingstrengthina3dprintedmortarwithbiocementsprayedintointerlayersurfaces
AT lumingshen improvementoftheinterlayerbondingstrengthina3dprintedmortarwithbiocementsprayedintointerlayersurfaces
AT abhijitmukherjee improvementoftheinterlayerbondingstrengthina3dprintedmortarwithbiocementsprayedintointerlayersurfaces
AT aliabbas improvementoftheinterlayerbondingstrengthina3dprintedmortarwithbiocementsprayedintointerlayersurfaces
AT danieldiasdacosta improvementoftheinterlayerbondingstrengthina3dprintedmortarwithbiocementsprayedintointerlayersurfaces