ABSTRACT
Advances in 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) require numerical models capable of capturing its layered structure and interfacial behavior. This work introduces a novel LDPM-based modelling approach in which the full specimen is discretized with tetrahedra, and interlayer behavior is described by locally modifying the meso-scale properties of elements positioned within the printed interfaces. As a first proof of concept, interlayer facets are assigned reduced mechanical properties, assuming a 30%, 35% and 40% decrease in tensile, shear strengths and fracture energy relative to the bulk material. A parameter-sensitivity study is performed across multiple LDPM realizations to assess how random meso-structural arrangements influence the global response. The simulations exhibit characteristic variability in failure patterns, with crack initiation occurring either along mid-span or along the weakened interlayer depending on the seed. The results demonstrate the capability of this location-based LDPM strategy to capture interlayer-driven variability and lay the groundwork for future calibration against experimental data.
