Static and dynamic testing of 3D-printed beams for structural design and construction application

The development of 3D printing has revolutionized the construction industry, presenting a sustainable approach to creating complex structures. However, the use of 3D printing materials in structural applications requires a thorough examination of their strength and serviceability to ensure their safety for practical use. This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties of thirty-six 243.1 mm-long 3D printed W beams (flange thickness t_f = 1.72 mm, web thickness t_w = 2.11 mm, flange width b_f = 17 mm for static testing, and b_f = 12.31 mm dynamic testing, depth d = 13.1 mm, and fillet radius r = 2.19 mm) and ST beams (flange thickness t_f = 1.77 mm, web thickness t_w = 1.86 mm, flange width b_f = 17 mm for static testing and b_f = 14.6 mm dynamic testing, depth d = 12.2 mm, and fillet radius r = 1.87 mm) for structural design and construction applications through static and dynamic testing. Static testing assesses several parameters, including stress-strain curve, Young's modulus, deflection, Poisson's ratio, and shear modulus, while dynamic testing evaluates stiffness and damping under free vibration. Three filaments were used, including Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PET-G) and Polylactic Acid (PLA). This research used strain gauges to develop stress-strain curves and a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) to measure stiffness and damping. Findings were developed on the mechanical properties of 3D printed W and ST beams to improve our understanding of 3D printing for structural design and construction applications. From our experimental result, we found that printing orientation can reduce the stiffness of specimens, even the material has a large value of Young's modulus. Printing orientation can also affect the damping of specimens