System and method for manufacturing a tower structure

An additive printing system for manufacturing a tower structure, the tower structure comprising a wall element circumscribing a vertical axis of the tower structure, the additive printing system comprising:

• a support structure;
• an optical scanner;
• a printhead assembly operably coupled to the support structure;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the printhead assembly and the optical scanner, the controller comprising at least one processor configured to perform or direct a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations comprising:
• depositing a first printed layer of a wall element with the printhead assembly,
• optically scanning the first printed layer via the optical scanner,
• generating a three-dimensional map of the first printed layer based on the optical scan,
• determining an actual midline perimeter length of the first printed layer based on the three-dimensional map of the first printed layer,
• forming a horizontal reinforcement assembly based, at least in part, on the actual midline perimeter, wherein the horizontal reinforcement assembly comprises an inner rail having a length that is less than the actual midline perimeter length, an outer rail having a length that is greater than the actual midline perimeter length, and a plurality of transverse members, each transverse member having a first end coupled to the inner rail and a second end coupled to the outer rail, wherein the inner rail and the outer rail have a shape corresponding to a horizontal shape of the first printed layer,
• positioning the horizontal reinforcement assembly in a horizontal orientation on the first printed layer and in axial alignment with the vertical axis, and
• depositing a second printed layer of the wall element with the printhead assembly on the horizontal reinforcement layer.