Min Yang
CCCC First Highway Consultants Co.Ltd, China
Title:
Evolution and Case Studies of Concrete 3D Printing Bridge Design and Construction Methods
Abstract:
Urban bridges enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of cities, often becoming iconic structures that shape urban identities. Concrete 3D printing is a groundbreaking digital construction technology that offers exceptional flexibility in bridge design and construction by removing traditional formwork constraints, enabling unique and creative structural forms.
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the development trajectory and pioneering practices of 3D printing bridge technology through three representative engineering cases. From a design standpoint, it addresses the discrepancies between the actual performance of 3D printed concrete materials and standard specification values. Moreover, it elucidates key technical characteristics such as interlayer interfaces. A systematic correlation framework has been developed to bridge digital design and existing regulatory standards, ensuring full compliance with national technical specifications and engineering safety requirements.
In terms of printing and construction methodologies, innovative technologies such as adaptive segmentation algorithms, spatial topological slicing, and non-uniform material deposition are utilized to facilitate intelligent path planning for various structural components of bridges. Specifically, for large-span spatial hyperbolic concrete bridge elements, an integrated construction approach combining 3D modeling, intelligent slicing, and layer-based path planning has been formulated, successfully addressing the technical challenges associated with printing complex non-horizontal spatial structures. At the same time, a robust quality control system for printed components has been established, effectively guaranteeing dimensional accuracy, interface quality, and mechanical performance requirements during the prefabricated assembly process.
Rigorous load tests and long-term monitoring, aligned with Chinese standards, validate the projects and pave the way for wider adoption of printed concrete bridges.
Bio:
Professor-level Senior Engineer Yang Min is the Deputy Director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Center at China Communications First Highway Engineering Group and a registered expert with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology. She leads the Shaanxi Provincial Key Innovation Team "Smart Construction for Transport Infrastructure" and is the Deputy Director of the Additive Manufacturing Research Center at China Communications Group. Professor Yang is also a Leading Talent in Science and Technology Innovation for Young and Middle-aged Professionals in Shaanxi and heads the 3D Printing Innovation Studio for Digital Construction in Shaanxi.
Her research focuses on smart construction and 3D printing technologies in civil engineering. She and her team have developed key technologies, including low-carbon 3D printing concrete, integrated control systems, and complex surface printing methods. These technologies are applied in infrastructure and architectural projects. Currently, Professor Yang leads a national key R&D project on "Integrated Additive Manufacturing Equipment for Metal and Concrete," advancing concrete 3D printing applications.