Completion of a joint research project: Wuhan-RUB joint research on UHPFRC materials and structures

On Monday, 11th August 2025, a research group from Wuhan University, China visited us - the Institute for Structural Mechanics, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany - again. Since January 2021 we both have been actively collaborative in the research project "Multiscale Tests, Simulation, Optimization and 3D-Printing of UHPFRC Materials and Structures", a project between Prof. Günther Meschke (Institute for Structural Mechanics, RUB) and Prof. Zhenjung Yang (Wuhan University, China), that has been embedded in a mobility programme. Now, after 4 years of research, it comes to an end.

The joint research focused on the development of innovative solutions in the field of 3D-printed ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). The Wuhan University team performed CT scans and provides high-resolution CT images. We, the team from the Institute for Structural Mechanics, used these CT images to create high-resolution digital 3D models from which directly numerical models are automatically generated. These numerical models allowed us to analyze the failure mechanisms of 3D-printed fibre-reinforced concrete on the meso-scale very precisely.

The completion of this joint research project represents an important milestone in our collaboration. The results achieved provide valuable insights into UHPFRC materials and structures and contribute to the current knowledge in this area.
Moving forward, there are several potential directions for further research. The findings from this project can serve as a foundation for additional studies or applying these results in practical settings or expanding the scope to include new variables.
This project has also paved the way for continued collaboration between our teams, allowing us to address more complex challenges in the future.