This　study　is　a　pilot　exploration　to　develop　rigorous,　green,　intellectualized　approach　for　optimal　controlling　the　3D　concrete　printing.　The　mechanical　performances　of　3D　printed　samples　during　super-early　age,　early　age,　and　hardened　state　are　tested　and　monitored　using　piezoelectric　zirconate　titanate　(PZT)　patches.　EMI　sensing　technique　is　applied　to　quantify　stiffness　gain　of　printed　concrete　to　evaluate　the　structural　build-up　behaviour　by　establishing　the　instant　correlation　between　the　stiffness　of　concrete　and　the　EMI　signatures.　An　optimization　method　for　printing　process　based　on　EMI　detection　is　proposed.　In　this　way,　the　PZT　signals　can　be　feedback　to　the　digital　control　system　of　printer　in　real　time　to　adjust　the　printing　setting.　Instant　intellectualization　for　the　3D　printing　technique　is　then　realized　and　the　buildability　of　the　printed　concrete　is　expected　to　be　improved.　The　different　early　age　properties　of　both　printed　and　casted　composites　are　elaborated.　Thereafter,　changes　of　frequency　and　amplitude　in　the　conductance　spectrum　acquired　by　mounted　PZT　patches　are　employed　to　characterize　and　quantify　the　mechanical　behaviours　of　the　3D　printed　samples　exposed　to　orthogonal　loadings,　which　contribute　to　the　understanding　of　damage　accumulation　and　failure　process　of　concrete　materials.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.