Alternative Construction Materials Research Articles

Behavior of ternary blended cementitious rubberized mixes reinforced with recycled tires steel fibers under different types of impact loads

This research primarily investigates the influence of incorporating steel fibers (recycled and manufactured) in Rubberized concrete (RuC) mixes on impact resistance. Impact resistance was comprehensively investigated for six steel fiber reinforced RuC (SFRRuC) mixes with a large volume of rubber, reaching a replacement of 40 % of fine and coarse aggregates. Besides mechanical properties, four different types of impact tests, including drop weight on concrete discs and prisms, rebound, and projectile impact, were performed. The impact results indicate that the incorporation of blended fibers in the RuC mixes substantially enhances the initial and failure impact energy of SFRRuC under drop weight tests on discs and prisms. The excellent impact performance was further confirmed by the results of the projectile impact test on concrete slabs, where the ejected mass as well as the crater sizes for the concrete slab containing 40 % rubber and steel fiber were the lowest, as the dual effect of rubber and steel fibers enhanced the ductility, toughness, and penetration resistance. Overall, the improved impact, flexural resistance and toughness index of SFRRuC compared to the plain concrete mix makes it a potential alternative and sustainable construction material for various applications including industrial floors and protective wall barriers in military structures.

Analysis of the Influence of Production Method, Plastic Content on the Basic Performance of Waste Plastic Modified Asphalt.

The sustainable reuse of waste plastic as an alternative construction material has numerous environmental and economic advantages. New opportunities to recycle waste plastic in asphalt for road construction would mitigate landfill issues and significantly reduce global carbon emissions. With a clear aim to contribute to a more efficient reuse of waste plastic, this paper reutilized two types of waste plastic (polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE)) as asphalt modifiers to improve the performance of asphalt pavement as well as to achieve the purpose of sustainable recycling waste plastic. Therefore, the optimal preparation parameters of plastic-modified asphalt were recommended by the orthogonal test. Then, the dispersion and modification mechanisms of plastic particles in plastic-modified asphalt were further studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TG-DSC). The results show that the asphalt containing PP and PE shows better overall performance at high temperatures compared with the base asphalt. Furthermore, PE-modified asphalt and PP-modified asphalt exhibited optimal properties when prepared at 3000 rpm for 30 min at 170 °C. Moreover, the results of the expansion mechanism show that the main reaction process of plastic asphalt is a physical change. Finally, PP-modified asphalt and PE-modified asphalt generally perform well and are suitable for high-temperature areas. Consequentially, the results of this research promote the recycling of waste plastic, ultimately advocating the recycling of waste materials and environmental protection of pavement construction.

Development of construction materials from the geopolymerization of red clay and coal fly ash

Red clay contains solid aluminosilicate has been shown to be reactive in the presence of an alkaline activator. The addition of coal fly ash and lime has shown improvements in their mechanical and physical properties of the geopolymer products. FTIR analysis and SEM images of the product have shown the formation of aluminosilicate gel in the geopolymeric product. The maximum compressive strength of the geopolymer products GP-RFL was achieved to be 15.92 N/mm2 having water absorption of 10.47 % and bulk density 2.81 g/cm3. These results indicated that geopolymer mortars made from red clay, coal fly ash and lime could be used as an alternative construction material./p> BIBECHANA 19 (2022) 119-126

Comparative Study of the Chemical Analysis of Different Brands of Cements used in Ghana

In Ghana, however, ordinary Portland-limestone cement in recent times continues to remain the alternative construction material compared to other brands. With the rising trend of infrastructural development in the country undertaken by individuals and real estate companies, there have been categories of different brands of cement alongside the existing brands being produced in Ghana. The usage of lowquality cement resulting in poor bonding of construction materials has led to the investigation of some selected brands. In this study six different brands of Portland - limestone cement generally used in the construction industry in Ghana, namely; CIMAF cement, Dangote cement, Diamond cement, Ghacem cement, Sol cement and Supacem cement were investigated. The chemical compositions were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer equipment because of its accuracy and simplicity it has over other technologies. The amount of chemical constituents like A2O3, SiO2, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, SO3, Na2O and K2O were determined in accordance with ASTM C114-18. The results indicated that the properties of the six brands of cement are comparable and are all of good quality.

Perspectives for the application of bauxite wastes in the development of alternative building materials

Tailings from bauxite extraction are worldwide of environmental concern, due to their open-air disposal in landfill dams. Although numerous studies have been dedicated to the application and reuse of wastes from bauxite processing tailings, there is still an important gap regarding the identification of properties that may, enable its application in the development of materials, especially as construction elements. The objective of this research is to characterize environmentally and microstructurally the bauxite waste from processing tailings produced in the state of Pará, Brazil, aiming at a combined characterization and discussion that evaluates its potential applications, as possible alternative to simple disposal in landfills. Chemical characterization analyzes were performed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), mineralogical by X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphological by Scanning Electron Microcopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) combined with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). In addition, physical analyzes were performed by granulometry, surface area measurement (BET) and Luxán pozzolanicity. Environmental analyzes were carried out through solubilization and leaching. The results obtained by chemical and mineralogical analyzes indicate that the material is an aluminosilicate with a high content of amorphous components, which allows it to be used as a pozzolan in either cementitious materials or as a precursor in alkali activated materials or else as a plasticity reducer in red ceramics. The results were confirmed by thermal analysis and by pozzolanicity test. Thus, it is possible to conclude, based on the characterization of the bauxite waste, that the material has potential for use in alternative construction materials, contributing to the sustainable development of civil construction.

Statistical modeling of physical and mechanical responses of roller-compacted sand concrete made with ternary sand using the experimental design method

The rapid development of road infrastructure and the lack of gravel resources have pushed practitioners in the field to develop and propose new alternative materials for road construction. As these novel materials are essentially based on sand, an innovative technique, i.e. the roller-compacted sand concrete (RCSC) technique, has lately been developed. The present paper aims primarily to investigate the effects of the physical characteristics and the mineralogical nature of sand on the mechanical and physical behavior of the RCSC. For this purpose, it was deemed appropriate to choose the design-of-experiment (mixture design) modeling with three factors that are represented by three different types of sand, i.e. calcareous sand (CS), alluvial sand (AS), and desert sand (DS). In addition, it was decided to select the compressive and tensile strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and water absorption at 28 days, as responses. Next, a microstructural analysis was carried out using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques.

High-temperature corrosion rate and diffusion modelling of Ni-coated incoloy 800H alloy in MgCl2–KCl heat transfer fluid

The polarization and long-term dipping corrosion behaviors of pristine and Ni-coated Incoloy 800H (800H) alloys were investigated in the eutectic MgCl 2 –KCl molten salt at different temperatures and compared their performance with expensive Haynes 230 (H230) alloy. The corrosion rates of all the studied alloys increased with temperature. The corrosion rates obtained from the electrochemical study showed Ni-coating increases the corrosion resistance of 800H alloy. Further, the linear polarization measurements were also performed at different temperatures to investigate the effect of Ni-coating on the exchange-current density. A long-term corrosion study showed that 800H has a higher corrosion rate than H230. However, Ni-coating significantly decreased the corrosion rate of 800H (even lower than H230) in the molten MgCl 2 –KCl salt. A diffusion model for Ni-coated 800H was presented to describe the diffusion behavior of Cr, Fe, and Ni elements in the Ni-coated 800H alloy in a long-term corrosion study. The diffusion model was simulated based on the partial differential equations and known initial boundary conditions. The simulated result is compared with experimental data by altering the diffusion coefficient and reasonable values of diffusion coefficients of Cr, Fe, and Ni in 800H alloy and Ni-coating. The estimated diffusion coefficient (D) values in the Ni-coating from 800H alloy are in the range of 2–4 × 10 −11 cm 2 s ˗1 , 4–6 × 10 −11 cm 2 s ˗1 , and 5–8 × 10 −11 cm 2 s ˗1 for Cr, Fe, and Ni, respectively. The overall results indicated that Ni-coated 800H could be employed as a suitable alternative construction material for solar thermal energy storage containers. • We report polarization and long-term dipping corrosion of pure and Ni-coated Incoloy 800H alloy in MgCl 2 -KCl molten salt. • Measured corrosion rates and weight loss showed Ni-coating on Incoloy 800H substantially increased the corrosion resistance. • Exchange current densities of Incoloy 800H with and without Ni-coating were investigated at different temperatures. • A diffusion model of Fe and Cr elements in Ni-coated 800H alloy was validated experimentally.

Alternative Construction Materials to Improve Concrete Characteristics

Determining building materials and their types and determining their effect on concrete properties are consistent with the technical and design variables of buildings. From this point of view, the research came to include theoretical studies and empirical tests for some materials, focusing on the aggregate as a basic material involved in the formation of concrete. The first part includes the introduction, research problem, assumptions, importance, and purpose of the research. the second part was to conduct practical experiments by designing different concrete mixtures in the mixing ratios and the type of aggregate until results were reached regarding the resistance of the concrete that was produced as a result of the difference in densities between ordinary aggregate concrete and lightweight aggregate concrete. Through that, for example, the lightweight aggregate with an age of (7) days and a mixing ratio of (1: 2: 4) gave strength to the models used (19.58) Mpa, and for the same mixing ratio and at an age of (28) days, it gave durability ( 22.83) Mpa. When the mixing ratio was changed to (1: 1.5: 3), it was (25.74) MPa and (32.34) MPa at the age of (7) days and (28) days, respectively. These results give an accurate indication that the aggregate is light in weight with similarity to the ordinary aggregate in obtaining concrete with a bearing strength within the approved specifications without guaranteeing the environmental treatments and the resulting loads

Investigating the drivers and acceptance of sustainable materials in Kuwait: A case study of CEB

Sustainable practices in construction industry are still facing numerous challenges despite the continuous efforts and campaigns for sustainable construction worldwide. This study aims to investigate the drivers of sustainable construction in the Kuwaiti construction industry with focus on Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) as an alternative sustainable construction material. It also aims to explore the level of awareness and acceptance of sustainable construction material among different stakeholders. The research was organized in three phases. The first phase identified the main drivers from relevant literature and similar studies in the past. In the second phase, a questionnaire-based survey was designed and implemented based on the findings from the literature. Two different questionnaires were designed for the survey: the first one was dedicated for stakeholders with limited knowledge about technical aspects of construction industry (owners, clients, real estate companies) and the second one was dedicated for practitioners and specialists (construction companies, engineers, project managers). In the third phase, statistical analyses were performed to compare the influence of the drivers on the stakeholders’ choices. Friedman test and Bonferroni-Dunn test were used to statistically demonstrate the level of importance of the investigated drivers. The results showed that the most influencing drivers in the choice of sustainable materials from the practitioners’ perspective are “Energy Efficiency”, “Availability and Accessibility to Resources”, “Environmental Impact”, “Enhancement of Health and Safety” and “Knowledge and Skill of Personnel” with no significant difference, followed by the “Client Demands” and the “Cost Savings” then finally the “Awareness on Sustainability”. It was also concluded that the clients’ perspective ranked the “Cost Saving” and the “Enhancement of Health and Safety” as the most important drivers followed by the “Availability and Accessibility to Resources” and the “Environmental Impact”. The survey also showed that despite the poor level of awareness on environmental sustainability, the results related to the level of acceptance of sustainable construction materials are optimistic. This observation demonstrates the readiness/willingness of clients and practitioners to shift towards sustainable construction materials, but the lack of knowledge and awareness can be the most challenging barrier to more sustainable practices. Hence, it is believed that strategies for promoting sustainability in construction industry should start by spreading knowledge among all involved stakeholders.

The study of force-resistance of reinforced geopolymer concrete beam

During the recent decades, the development of geopolymer concrete technology towards to produce an alternative construction material solution for replacing the Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Compared to traditional concrete, the products using geopolymer material can reduce the significant amount of carbon footprint and positively impact the environment. This study demonstrated that the flexural force-resistance of Geopolymer concrete (GPC) is higher than the OPC concrete, especially the higher flexural strength about 20% to 30%. Meanwhile, the Poisson's ratio and elasticity modulus of geopolymer concrete is equivalent to OPC concrete.

The evaluation of calcium carbonate added and basalt fiber reinforced roller compacted high performance concrete for pavement

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the mechanical properties and durability of basalt fiber (BF) reinforced, and ground calcium carbonate incorporated (GCC) roller-compacted concrete (RCC) by considering different amounts of basalt fibers (BFs). Concrete specimens containing various BFs (0.5 %, 0.75 %, 1 % and 1.25 % by weight) and GCC amounts (replacing 5 %, 10 % 15 % and 20 % by weight of cement) were examined. A hybrid optimization study based on the Placket Burmann and Taguchi methods was also conducted to enhance the effects of ingredients in terms of their compressive and flexural strengths. The experimental results showed that compressive and flexural strengths varied in the range of 28.74–44.95 MPa and 3.92–6.13 MPa respectively at the age of 28 days. Moreover, factors consisting of 260 kg/m3 cement, 1.25 % of BF and 20 % GCC were obtained as the optimum condition for the proposed RCC design. The developed BF reinforced and GCC added RCC could be a reasonable alternative material for pavement construction.

Performance evaluation of mortarless brick masonry

The rising cost of construction materials need to adhere alternate construction techniques and materials. Mud brick is one of the common and basic construction units since thousands of years. In this research study the bricks with mechanical interlocking mechanism are used for comparison over economical, sustainable, environment friendly and fast track construction especially for the flood and earthquake affected areas. Naturally destructive areas require quick rehabilitation of the displaced people. A parametric study has been performed in compassion with conventional brick masonry. Performance evaluation for construction cost and time has been studied along with the durability of system to check the acceptability of mortarless masonry construction technique.

Comparative Study on the Effects of Steel Slag Aggregate over Blended Cement Concrete

Abstract: Concrete is the most versatile construction material because it can bedesigned to withstand the harshest environments while taking on the most inspirational forms. Engineers are continually pushing the limits to improve its performance with the help of innovative chemical admixtures and alternative construction materials (ACM). Nowadays, most concrete mixture contains alternative construction materials which form part of the cementitious component. These materials are majority byproducts from other processes. The main benefits of ACM (alternative construction materials) are their ability to replace certain amount of cement or aggregates and still able to display major properties similarto concrete, thus reducing the cost of using traditional materials. The fast growthin industrialization has resulted in tons and tons of byproduct or waste materials, which can be used as ACMs (alternative construction materials) such as marble powder, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag, steel slag etc. The useof these byproducts not only helps to utilize these waste materials but also enhances the properties of concrete in fresh and hydrated states. Most concrete produced today includes one or more ACM (alternative construction materials). For this reason, their properties are frequently compared to each other by mix designers seeking to optimize concrete mixtures. To design high strength concrete good quality aggregates is also required. Steel slag is an industrial byproduct obtained from the steel manufacturing industry. This can be used as aggregate in concrete. It has been usually used as aggregate in hot mix asphalt surface applications, but in the present work it has been used in conventional concrete mixture and performance is compared with normal aggregate concrete. Replacing all or some portion of natural aggregates with steel slag would lead to considerable environmental benefits. Steel slagaggregate generally exhibit a propensity to expand hence steel slag aggregates are generally not used in concrete making. However, use of blended cement concrete is reported to reduce the expansion of the concrete. In the present work a series of tests were carried out to make comparative studies of various mechanical properties of concrete mixes prepared by using normal cement concrete, marble powder and cement blend concrete (1:1 proportion ) with or without use of steel slag. The ingredients are mixed in 1: 1.5: 3 proportions. The properties studied are 7 days, 14 days and 28 days compressive strengths, workability and surface hardness. Keywords: Cement, Concrete, Steel Slag, Aggregates, Blended Cement,Marble Powder.

An Overview on the Development and Research Work on Coconut Shell as An Aggregate

Abstract: Different waste materials such as fly ash, silica flumes, blast furnaces slag are used in concreting. Aggregate is a major ingredient for making concrete, occupy almost 70 - 80% part of concrete[1]. Conventionally crushed rocks are used as coarse aggregate and river sand used as fine aggregate. Due to rapid growth of construction activities, conventional aggregate sources are depleting very fast leading to significant increase in cost of Construction. This has necessitated research for alternative cost effective materials in construction. The paper aims about the partial replacement of crushed coconut shells as a substitute of conventional aggregate. It may help to produce concrete economically and at the same time also will help to reduce its disposal problem. Keywords: coconut shell, concrete, coarse aggregate, compressive strength, waste disposal.

Artificial Lightweight Aggregates Made from Pozzolanic Material: A Review on the Method, Physical and Mechanical Properties, Thermal and Microstructure.

As the demand for nonrenewable natural resources, such as aggregate, is increasing worldwide, new production of artificial aggregate should be developed. Artificial lightweight aggregate can bring advantages to the construction field due to its lower density, thus reducing the dead load applied to the structural elements. In addition, application of artificial lightweight aggregate in lightweight concrete will produce lower thermal conductivity. However, the production of artificial lightweight aggregate is still limited. Production of artificial lightweight aggregate incorporating waste materials or pozzolanic materials is advantageous and beneficial in terms of being environmentally friendly, as well as lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, additives, such as geopolymer, have been introduced as one of the alternative construction materials that have been proven to have excellent properties. Thus, this paper will review the production of artificial lightweight aggregate through various methods, including sintering, cold bonding, and autoclaving. The significant properties of artificial lightweight aggregate, including physical and mechanical properties, such as water absorption, crushing strength, and impact value, are reviewed. The properties of concrete, including thermal properties, that utilized artificial lightweight aggregate were also briefly reviewed to highlight the advantages of artificial lightweight aggregate.

Using Plastic Sand as a Construction Material toward a Circular Economy: A Review

Recently, research on innovative approaches to and practices for plastic waste management in a circular economy has gained momentum. Plastic waste pollution poses a serious environmental concern. At the same time, the cement industry is among the biggest sources of CO2 emissions, which poses another environmental challenge. This makes plastic sand bricks an attractive alternative to concrete blocks and bricks. This paper looks at the recent studies regarding the development of plastic sand bricks and the different percentages of plastic and sand used in the bricks. The literature review reveals that there is a lack of studies that evaluate plastic sand construction materials from an economic perspective. Such studies are essential if the industry is to invest in and adopt this alternative construction material. Plastic sand bricks could be a workable solution for combating issues related to solid waste. The compressive strength decreased with increasing ratios of plastic to sand. Plastic sand bricks weighed less than the conventional bricks. Issues requiring further investigation include: dealing with varying proportions and types of plastic, the lack of understanding of the long-term performance of plastic sand bricks, the flammability and fire resistance of plastic sand bricks, and the absence of appropriate standards and regulations for recycling plastic into plastic sand bricks. This paper allows us to look ahead in terms of some specific technical needs, the translation of the emerging technology into practice, and new ideas to decrease plastic pollution.

Experimental Characterization of a Functionally Graded Composite Using Recycled Steel Fiber

Many industries have recently focused on cost-effective materials with good mechanical properties. Steel fiber reinforced cementitious composites have proven their mechanical performance in industrial and structural components. The concept of recycled fiber-reinforced FGM is used as an alternative construction material, which can be one of the proposed cost-effective solutions. To achieve these objectives, an experimental program has been developed. A cementitious composite based on local materials was strengthened in two designs; one strengthened over the entire cross-section and the other strengthened only in the tensile zone. We also substituted a functional gradient material reinforced with recycled fibers considering the following volume fractions: 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%. This paper investigates the feasibility of using recycled fibers from industrial waste from steel wool manufacturing as reinforcement. We also characterized their mechanical properties using ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, and shear strength. The results show that the corrugated recycled fibers are the ideal choice to increase the mechanical performance of the reinforced composite, including the improvement of flexural and shear behaviors. Therefore, the investigated FGC could be a valuable tool to optimize the design process in various structural applications and make the production of mechanically and environmentally economical composites possible. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-05-03 Full Text: PDF

Steel Slag and Recycled Concrete Aggregates: Replacing Quarries to Supply Sustainable Materials for the Asphalt Paving Industry

Various researchers are developing efforts to integrate waste and by-products as alternative materials in road construction and maintenance, reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy. Among the alternative materials that several authors have studied regarding their use as partial or total substitutes for natural aggregates in the asphalt paving industry, the steel slag aggregate (SSA) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from construction demolition waste (CDW) stand out. This paper reviews and discusses the characteristics and performance of these materials when used as aggregates in asphalt mixtures. Based on the various studies analyzed, it was possible to conclude that incorporating SSA or RCA in asphalt mixtures for road pavements has functional, mechanical, and environmental advantages. However, it is essential to consider some possible drawbacks of these aggregates that are discussed in this paper, to define the acceptable uses of SSA and RCA as sustainable feedstocks for road paving works.

Pervious geopolymer concrete as sustainable material for environmental application

Geopolymer binders are alternative construction materials to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), which is currently used for various applications. The process flexibility and the low carbon footprint of the geopolymer binders have led to the development of pervious geopolymer concrete. It helps to significantly reduce stormwater runoff, urban flooding and has the benefit of being less energy-intensive. Challenges of pervious concrete made up of ordinary Portland cement is the reduction in compressive strength while the void content increases. This research focuses on the development of geopolymer pervious concrete (GPC) to overcome the aforementioned challenge. Different geopolymeric compositions were mixed with aggregate of 10 mm and 20 mm and using different binder to aggregate ratios. Compressive strength and flexural strength of the developed fly-ash based geopolymer concrete were 39.9 MPa and 2.2 MPa, respectively, and the void content was maintained up to 37.7%, while density was 1988.14 Kg/m3.

A Review on Properties and Applications of Fly Ash

This article is an overview on the key properties and applications of fly ash. Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, possesses diverse properties that make it a valuable resource with various applications. The chemical composition of fly ash includes oxides and trace elements, influencing its suitability for different applications. Physical characteristics such as particle size distribution and density play crucial roles in determining its behavior in various environments. Fly ash is widely utilized in concrete production, enhancing both strength and durability. Its applications extend to agriculture, where it improves soil quality and enhances crop yields. Innovative applications, including nanomaterial synthesis and alternative construction materials, showcase the potential for future research and development in the field of fly ash utilization. This article highlights the multifaceted nature of fly ash, emphasizing its significance in both current applications and future trends.