Branching Structure for Reinforcement Anchorage Produced with Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing Technique

Limitations concerning the reinforcement for additively manufactured reinforced concrete structural elements are many. From integration strategies to material waste, reinforcement needs to be redefined in order for complete automation to occur. Recently the prospect of wire-and-arc additively manufactured (WAAM) steel reinforcement was introduced, as a potential alternative to the conventional reinforcement mesh and that so, in the form of bars, planar or spatial diagrids. Though the linear form of the reinforcement is often most effective in the undisturbed regions, disturbed regions, such as the anchorage zone benefit more from the reinforcement of different geometrical designs. Combining the theoretical geometrical freedom, together with the spatially unconfined workspace of WAAM, branched geometry for the anchorage zone reinforcement is devised. Design is based on the behaviour of the principal isocurves in the anchorage zone, with the intention of transferring the load to the concrete matrix in a dissipative manner. Material data on steel WAAM is used from previous studies and integrated into the finite element simulations. Motivation for the selection of this particular AM method is found, among all, in the WAAM’s inherent characteristic surface roughness that could beneficially affect the performance of so manufactured reinforcement anchorage. The benefits of a nature-inspired, root-like design are also discussed, and future directions are proposed.