Reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method under lunar gravity environment

Abstract

The present invention discloses a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure, and method under a lunar gravity environment. The printing device is provided with a metal printing end head and a concrete printing end head; a feeding mechanism is provided in the printing device, which feeds concrete to the concrete printing end head and metal material to the metal printing end head; the metal printing end head is a stirring head, which can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame by means of stir friction additive manufacturing, and then the concrete printing end head prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame. The printing device is provided with a pressurizing mechanism, which can pressurize the stirring head when printing. The concrete printing end head is an extrusion-type nozzle, which can squeeze concrete onto the metal reinforcement frame. The present invention can solve the problem of difficulty in metal printing under a lunar gravity environment, so as to realize 3D building printing under a lunar gravity environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of 3D printing technology, and in particular to a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure, and method under a lunar gravity environment. Background Art

[0002] As Earth's natural satellite, the Moon boasts low gravity and a vacuum environment. Its environment resembles space, and it harbors abundant resources, making it highly valuable for research and exploration. To effectively explore the Moon and conduct long-term lunar research, establishing a robust and stable lunar base is crucial. However, due to the Moon's gravity, traditional Earth-based construction methods cannot be replicated there. 3D printing, as an emerging technology, is mature, simple, and convenient, and crucially, it can achieve printing in the lunar gravity environment.

[0003] However, the main problem in the lunar gravity environment is microgravity. For printing technology completed by metal melting on the ground, the surface tension effect of the molten droplets in the lunar gravity environment is prominent. If the parameters are not matched, the molten droplets are very easy to spheroidize, adhere to the metal wire, and are difficult to combine with the substrate. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: To overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure, and method in a lunar gravity environment, aiming to solve the problem of difficulty in metal printing in a lunar gravity environment and to realize 3D building printing in a lunar gravity environment.

[0005] Technical solution: To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method under the lunar gravity environment. The printing device is provided with a metal printing end head and a concrete printing end head; a feeding mechanism is provided in the printing device, which supplies concrete to the concrete printing end head and metal material to the metal printing end head; the metal printing end head is a stirring head, which can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame by stir friction additive manufacturing, and then the concrete printing end head prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame.

[0006] Furthermore, the printing device is provided with a pressurizing mechanism, which can pressurize the stirring head when the stirring head is printing.

[0007] Furthermore, the concrete printing end head is an extrusion nozzle, which can squeeze concrete onto the metal reinforcement frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the printing device is provided with a grabbing mechanism, which can grab materials and place them on the building structure being printed.

[0009] Furthermore, the printing structure includes a metal frame, a plurality of three-dimensional grids are formed inside the metal frame, and the three-dimensional grids are filled with concrete; the three-dimensional grids in the metal frame are interconnected, so that the concrete in the metal frame is connected as a whole.

[0010] Furthermore, the metal reinforcement frame is formed by stacking several reinforcement row layers, and a single reinforcement row layer is formed by arranging multiple metal reinforcement bars in the same direction. There is a reinforcement gap between two adjacent metal reinforcement bars in the same reinforcement row layer, and the metal reinforcement bars in two adjacent reinforcement row layers have a certain angle, so that the reinforcement gaps in the two adjacent reinforcement row layers intersect with each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal reinforcement frame.

[0011] Furthermore, the metal ribs are formed by combining multiple layers of metal materials.

[0012] Furthermore, the metal ribs are formed by combining a bottom metal support bar and multiple layers of metal deposition materials on the metal support bar.

[0013] Furthermore, during the printing process, the feeding mechanism supplies metal material to the mixing head, and the pressure mechanism pressurizes the mixing head; the mixing head first prints the metal material on the foundation, and the mixing head rotates and moves back to the original position, thereby printing out metal ribs, and then the mixing head prints another metal rib at a certain distance, gradually printing out the entire rib layer on the foundation; after completing the printing of a rib layer, the mixing head changes the direction of moving back to the original position, and prints a new rib layer on the original rib layer, thereby stacking layer by layer to print out a metal rib frame, and injecting concrete into the metal rib frame through a nozzle.

[0014] Furthermore, when printing metal ribs, the grabbing mechanism first grabs a metal support bar and places it on the printing position, allowing the metal support bar to span the rib seam of the rib layer below, and then the stirring head prints metal material on the metal support bar to thicken the metal support bar and form metal ribs.

[0015] Beneficial effects: The reinforced concrete 3D printing device, structure and method under the lunar gravity environment of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1) A stirring head is provided on the printing device. The stirring head utilizes friction stir additive manufacturing to perform 3D printing in the lunar gravity environment, overcoming the problem of difficult droplet transition in the lunar gravity environment of traditional laser additive manufacturing.

[0017] 2) When printing metal ribs, place thinner metal support bars at the printing position so that the metal support bars cross the rib gaps. Then use a stirring head to thicken the metal support bars to solve the problem that the stirring head cannot directly cross the rib gaps during printing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] AttachmentFigure 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device;

[0019] Attachment Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the metal reinforcement printing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] As attached Figures 1 to 2 The reinforced concrete 3D printing device described in the lunar gravity environment comprises a printing device 1 equipped with a metal printing head and a concrete printing head. A feeding mechanism 2 is provided within the printing device 1, which supplies concrete to the concrete printing head and metal material to the metal printing head. The metal printing head is a mixing head 3, which can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame 4 using a friction stir additive manufacturing method. The concrete printing head then prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame 4.

[0022] There is a feeding hole at the bottom of the stirring head 3, and the feeding mechanism 2 can feed metal wire or rod into the feeding hole. The stirring head 3 will rotate during operation and generate friction heat. The metal material coming out of the feeding hole will produce strong plastic deformation under the action of friction heat. The softened and deformed metal material is then combined with the base metal to print out the metal reinforcement 4, so that the printing device 1 in the present invention can perform 3D printing in the lunar gravity environment, overcoming the problem that the molten droplets of traditional laser additive manufacturing are difficult to transfer in the lunar gravity environment.

[0023] The printing device 1 is provided with a pressurizing mechanism. When the stirring head 3 is printing, the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head 3. By applying downward pressure, the softened metal material and the base metal are more tightly combined, so that the printed metal rib 4 has higher strength.

[0024] The concrete printing end is an extrusion nozzle 5, which can squeeze the concrete stored in the feeding mechanism 2 onto the metal reinforcement frame 4, so that the concrete and the metal reinforcement frame 4 are combined to form a reinforced concrete building.

[0025] In one embodiment, the printing device 1 is equipped with a gripping mechanism that can grab materials and place them on the building structure being printed. In another embodiment, the printing device 1 is equipped with a matching external gripping device. Using the gripping mechanism or external gripping device, other materials can be added to the building structure being printed to assist in the formation of the building structure.

[0026] As attached Figure 1In one embodiment shown in , the printing device 1 further includes a robotic arm 9 disposed on a base. The robotic arm 9 is capable of moving the mixing head 3 and the nozzle 5 to the printing position. In addition, the robotic arm 9 can also serve as a pressure mechanism to apply pressure to the mixing head 3. The mixing head 3 and the nozzle 5 should be staggered on the printing device 1 to avoid interference during printing. Alternatively, the nozzle 5 can be retracted, retracted when the mixing head 3 prints metal, and extended when printing concrete.

[0027] The present invention also provides a reinforced concrete 3D-printed structure for lunar gravity. The printed structure includes a metal frame 4, internally formed with a plurality of three-dimensional grids filled with concrete. The three-dimensional grids within the metal frame 4 are interconnected, connecting the concrete within the metal frame 4 into a single unit. This provides the printed structure with excellent structural strength, making it suitable for construction in lunar gravity.

[0028] Specifically, the metal reinforcement frame 4 is formed by vertically stacking a plurality of reinforcement rows 6. A single reinforcement row 6 is formed by arranging a plurality of metal reinforcement bars 7 in the same direction, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 2 As shown in FIG, the metal ribs 7 in the same rib layer 6 are parallel to each other. The adjacent metal ribs 7 in the same rib layer 6 are spaced apart so that a rib gap 8 is formed between the adjacent metal ribs 7. The metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib layers 6 have a certain angle, so that the rib gaps 8 in the two adjacent rib layers 6 intersect with each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal rib frame 4. As shown in FIG. Figure 2 In one embodiment shown in FIG, the metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib rows 6 are arranged in the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively, thereby forming an interconnected three-dimensional grid within the metal rib frame 4. In actual applications, the metal ribs 7 in two adjacent rib rows 6 are not necessarily perpendicular to each other and can also be at other angles.

[0029] The metal ribs 7 are formed by combining multiple layers of metal materials. Furthermore, the metal ribs 7 are formed by combining a bottom metal support bar and multiple layers of metal deposited materials on the metal support bar. That is, the bottom layer of the metal ribs 7 is a thinner metal support bar, and the stirring head 3 prints the metal material on the metal support bar to thicken the metal support bar.

[0030] The present invention also provides a reinforced concrete 3D printing method under the lunar gravity environment. During the printing process, the feeding mechanism 2 supplies metal material to the mixing head 3, and the pressure mechanism pressurizes the mixing head 3. Before printing, select the foundation 10, or print a layer of metal on the ground by the mixing head 3 to form the foundation 10. After the foundation 10 is built, the mixing head 3 first prints the metal material on the foundation 10, and the mixing head 3 rotates while moving back to the original position, thereby printing out the metal rib 7, and then the mixing head 3 prints another metal rib 7 at a distance, and gradually prints out the entire rib layer 6 on the foundation 10. After completing the printing of one rib layer 6, the mixing head 3 changes the direction of its movement, for example, attaching Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the longitudinal reciprocating movement is changed to a transverse reciprocating movement, so that a new reinforcement layer 6 is printed on the original reinforcement layer 6, thereby stacking layer by layer to print the metal reinforcement frame 4. After the metal reinforcement frame 4 is cooled, concrete is injected into the interior of the metal reinforcement frame 4 through the nozzle 5, thereby forming a reinforced concrete 3D printed structure.

[0031] During the printing process, since a rib gap 8 is formed between two adjacent metal ribs 7 and a pressure mechanism is applied to the mixing head 3, during the actual printing process, if the mixing head 3 passes directly through the rib gap 8, the mixing head 3 will be directly pressed into the rib gap 8, and the metal material will be filled into the rib gap 8, resulting in the inability to form an interconnected three-dimensional grid in the metal rib frame 4, and the concrete injected into the metal rib frame 4 cannot be connected as a whole, which in turn leads to a reduction in the structural strength of the printed building structure.

[0032] In order to overcome the influence of the rib gap 8 on printing, in the present invention, when printing the metal rib 7, a metal support bar is first grabbed by a grabbing mechanism and placed at the printing position, so that the metal support bar straddles the rib gap 8 of the rib layer 6 below. The metal support bar is a relatively thin strip, but its thickness also needs to prevent the stirring head 3 from directly crushing the metal support bar. The stirring head 3 then prints the metal material on the metal support bar. The friction heat generated by the stirring head 3 during the stirring process will also soften the metal support bar and combine the metal support bar with the base metal. The metal material printed by the stirring head 3 then thickens the metal support bar, thereby forming the metal rib 7. Thus, the present invention solves the problem that the stirring head 3 cannot directly straddle the rib gap 8 during the printing process by adding a metal support bar.

[0033] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reinforced concrete 3D printing method in a lunar gravity environment, characterized by: The invention comprises a printing device (1), wherein the printing device (1) is provided with a metal printing end head and a concrete printing end head; a feeding mechanism (2) is provided in the printing device (1), and the feeding mechanism (2) supplies concrete to the concrete printing end head and supplies metal material to the metal printing end head; the metal printing end head is a stirring head (3), and the stirring head (3) can print the metal material into a metal reinforcement frame (4) in a stir friction additive manufacturing manner, and then the concrete printing end head prints concrete on the metal reinforcement frame (4); The metal reinforcement frame (4) is formed by stacking a plurality of reinforcement rows (6), wherein a single reinforcement row layer (6) is formed by arranging a plurality of metal reinforcement bars (7) in the same direction, and a reinforcement gap (8) is formed between two adjacent metal reinforcement bars (7) in the same reinforcement row layer (6); the metal reinforcement bars (7) in two adjacent reinforcement rows (6) have a certain angle, so that the reinforcement gaps (8) in the two adjacent reinforcement rows (6) intersect with each other, thereby forming a three-dimensional grid that is interconnected in the metal reinforcement frame (4), and the three-dimensional grid is filled with concrete; The metal ribs (7) are formed by combining a bottom metal support bar and multiple layers of metal deposited materials on the metal support bar; During the printing process under the lunar gravity environment, the feeding mechanism (2) supplies metal material to the mixing head (3), and the mixing head (3) first prints the metal material on the foundation (10). The mixing head (3) rotates and moves back to the original position, thereby printing out a metal rib (7). Then, the mixing head (3) prints another metal rib (7) at a certain distance, and gradually prints out the entire rib layer (6) on the foundation (10); after completing the printing of one rib layer (6), the mixing head (3) changes the direction of the back movement and prints out a new rib layer (6) on the original rib layer (6), thereby stacking layer by layer to print out a metal rib frame (4), and concrete is injected into the metal rib frame (4); The printing device (1) is provided with a grabbing mechanism. When printing the metal ribs (7), the grabbing mechanism first grabs a metal support bar and places it on the printing position, so that the metal support bar straddles the rib gap (8) of the rib layer (6) below. Then, the stirring head (3) prints the metal material on the metal support bar. The stirring head (3) rotates during operation and generates friction heat. The bottom of the stirring head (3) is provided with a feeding hole. The metal material coming out of the feeding hole will produce strong plastic deformation under the action of friction heat. The softened and deformed metal material will then combine with the base metal, thereby thickening the metal support bar to form a metal rib (7).

2. The reinforced concrete 3D printing method under lunar gravity according to claim 1, characterized in that: The printing device (1) is provided with a pressurizing mechanism, and when the stirring head (3) is printing, the pressurizing mechanism can pressurize the stirring head (3).

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