The construction sector has historically demonstrated lower levels of technological uptake relative to other sectors. However, the past decade has marked a notable shift with the emergence of 3D printing and additive manufacturing in building construction. Indeed, several companies are actively developing 3D printing systems and constructing buildings using these technologies worldwide. However, the current literature lacks comprehensive studies, and there remains a significant gap in understanding the seismic behaviour of structures built using monolithic 3D printing techniques.

This paper aims to address this shortcoming by presenting a systematic experimental campaign, beginning with the characterisation of 3D-printed materials and walls and culminating in a shake table test on a full-scale 3D-printed housing unit (3m x 4m). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first seismic shake table test conducted on a monolithic 3D-printed building unit.

The work proposes a methodological approach developed through a five-step procedure: i) conducting a detailed mechanical characterization of material properties through a series of preliminary tests, such as diagonal shear tests in 3D printed walls; ii) calibrating a numerical model using preliminary experimental tests to facilitate the interpretation of results and to simulate the seismic response of the 3D-printed building unit, considering various geometric configurations; iii) designing and dimensioning the 3D-printed building unit, along with its connection to the shake table and the sensor system tailored explicitly for seismic testing; iv) implementing the full-scale shake table test on the housing unit, printed directly on the shake table at the SOFSI Lab at the University of Bristol; v) refining the numerical model based on the outcomes of the final dynamic test.

Preliminary results indicate the potential for establishing foundational design guidelines to support engineers and industry stakeholders adopting this emerging technology. Ultimately, this study aims to enhance seismic risk mitigation strategies and promote the development of sustainable, technologically advanced construction solutions. 

This paper is part of the dissemination activities of the project SAFE 3D PRINTED-CS: Seismic and Energy Assessment of the Performance of 3D Printed Concrete Structures, which involves testing both thermal and seismic performance. The project was funded within the Transnational Access First Call of the HORIZON-INFRA-2021-SERV-01-07 program.