Towards 3D-printed steel grid-shells: the main idea and first studies

This paper presents the basic concepts and the first engineering evaluations towards the development of the technology for the fully automated design and construction of 3D-printed grid-shell dome-like building structures inspired by the ideal visions of city domes. A suitable technique to realize such free-form shapes is the so-called Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), whose process parameters and material properties are still not fully explored and known, as a comprehensive set of international standards has not yet been available. This work provides the first insight into the material and geometrical properties relevant to characterize 308LSi stainless steel elements. In detail, the results of material tensile tests and optical measurements are illustrated.