The Effect of Geometry on Compliance in 3D Printed Serpentine Cementitious Architectures

Abstract

Recent advances in architected materials suggest that geometric design can significantly alter the mechanical response of otherwise brittle materials. This study investigates the effect of geometric parameters on compliance in 3D printed serpentine cementitious architectures through a combined finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental approach. Parametric FEA was conducted to evaluate the influence of filament thickness, out-of-plane thickness, filament spacing, number of folds, and hinge geometry on stress distribution and deformation behavior. Based on these results, multiple folded geometries, including linear serpentine and honeycomb-inspired configurations, were fabricated using extrusion-based 3D printing of cement paste and tested under displacement-controlled compression. Results demonstrate that geometry plays a significant role in governing both compliance and failure behavior. Increasing the number of folds significantly reduced peak stresses and enhanced compliance. Experimental testing confirmed bilinear load-displacement behavior in several geometries, with a distinct transition from low pre-contact stiffness to higher post-contact stiffness. However, large pre-contact deformation was often associated with reduced post-contact strength, potentially due to accumulated damage. Overall, this study highlights the ability of geometric design to induce tunable mechanical behavior in cementitious materials, enabling enhanced deformability and controlled stiffness transitions. These findings establish a foundation for the development of compliant concrete systems with potential applications in energy absorption, vibration damping and structural energy.