Conventional Building Materials Research Articles

Recycling plastic waste materials for building and construction Materials: A minireview

The production of plastic wastes is a growing environmental problem in the era of industrialization and economic growth due to the varied applications of polymeric materials. The wastes, which are mainly landfilled pollute land and waste resources due to the toxic and resistant to biodegradation nature of their components. Therefore, innovative approaches to channel plastic wastes away from landfills are imperative. In this mini-review, recycling of plastic wastes to materials useful in the building and construction sector as a viable solution to their environmental accumulation was focused on. Using pre-existent empirical studies, it was established that plastics can be used alone or in combination with other materials at varied percentage compositions to make various building and construction materials. These include bricks, blocks, tiles, asphalt, bitumen, geosynthetics, door panels, insulation materials and cementitious composites. These applications are enhancers to environmental sustainability as they reduce the mining and transport of conventional building and construction materials, which result to atmospheric pollution. It was noted that there was need to commercialize the applications by advancing to better plastic harvesting technologies and cost-effective recycling approaches for wastes with a variety of plastics. Assessing the lifecycle of recycling plastic materials for building and construction in addition to devising regulations to standardize the processes involved was recommended to validate the ability of the advances to enhance sustainability.

Life cycle assessment of alternative building materials using idematlightlca mobile app

In this paper, we have quantified the environmental impacts of different choices of conventional and alternative building materials for a 2BHK model residential building for above the plinth level construction using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard procedures recommended by ISO 14040 – 2006 guidelines. The LCA was carried out using IdematLightLCA android app (Version 4.0) which is designed by Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. The comparisons were made between clay red bricks Vs sand lime bricks and reinforced cement concrete Vs bubble zoned light weight concrete with conventional and renewable energy resources inputs. The environmental impact categories analyzed were ranked on eco cost and on carbon footprint. The results confirmed that alternative materials along with renewable energy inputs proved to be more environment friendly and energy efficient than the conventional materials along with conventional energy inputs.

A Novel Approach for the Consolidation of Sand by MICP Single Treatment

Saving natural resources has become increasingly important. In construction, research has been done on alternative methods to replace conventional building materials. One of those novel methods is MICP (microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation). In this process, calcium carbonate crystals are precipitated with the help of ureolytic bacteria. A cementation solution consisting of urea and calcium salt is used. This precipitation can be used for solidification. In the field of MICP research, there exist multiple publications with several kinds of tests, but no verifiable compressive strength test. However, most researchers are concerned with soil improvement or self-healing methods, to fill cracks in concrete. Similarly, column tests are mainly conducted to investigate the strength. This study presents, a new method of strength assay that uses hardened sand samples of 3 cm edge length. This allows for an accurate compressive strength verification and thus the effect of the biocementation treatment. In addition, this method applies a single treatment method with a novel type of formulation of the MICP components. The results show that a single MICP treatment is sufficient for the consolidation of various sands. Compressive strength of up to 1.8 N/mm2 was achieved in the process tests in the uniaxial strength test.

Fly Ash/Silica Fume Coral Concrete with Modified Polypropylene Fiber for Sustainable Building Construction

Coral concrete made of coral sand/aggregates has attracted significant interest in the construction of coastal or artificial island buildings by saving significant economic and environmental costs for transporting the conventional building materials from mainland. However, the application of coral concrete is very limited due to the drawback such as low strength, brittleness, and high porosity. This paper develops a new coral concrete composite utilizing coral debris to replace sand and aggregates, sea water, supplementary cementitious waste materials, namely, fly ash and silica fume and modified polypropylene fiber (MPPF) to achieve both sustainable and economic development needs in coastal and island building and construction. The mechanical and durability of the new coral concrete are evaluated and the synergistic effects of fly ash and silica fume on the performance of MPPF coral concrete are discussed. It has been found out that the addition of fly ash and silica fume in MPPF coral concrete can significantly improve the strengths and reduce the chloride diffusion of coral concrete. Compared with those from the specimens without fly ash and silica fume, the compressive, splitting tensile, flexural strengths of MPPF concrete with 10% fly ash and 10% silica fume are improved by 31%, 33%, and 58%, respectively. The new coral concrete composite would be an ideal building material solution for coastal and artificial island applications as most of the materials come from the local wastes.

Clay bricks using building debris

It is generally a practice to dispose the demolished building debris in landfills, which ultimately leads to the percolation and fertility of the soil being affected. This project is intended to reduce wastage and use them as a replacement for conventional building materials. The primary building materials used in a clay brick are clay, red earth, and water. The idea is to find a replacement for these materials using building debris. A novel method to separate aggregate from the concrete matrix was adopted in which the waste concrete block was subjected to alternate cycles of heating to about 650 °C and cooling, followed by pulverization. This results in the complete removal of water and breakage of cementitious bonds. The separated aggregate was washed and subjected to crushing and impact tests. The results obtained confirmed the conventional aggregate standards mentioned in the relevant IS codes. Hence, they can be reused in construction activities. Further, it is intended to replace red earth with recycled residue that remains after the separation of aggregate. To ensure economy and eco-friendliness clay shall be replaced by flyash in small amounts.

Research and Testing Lead to Historic Code Change

Abstract Simply substituting wood for conventional building materials could provide almost a tenth of the global carbon emission reductions needed to meet 2030 goals. However, while structural light-frame wood products are the go-to building material in the United States for low-rise residential construction, capturing over 90 percent of the market, any kind of wood-frame construction at the time under examination was limited to 5 stories and 85 feet in height. These story and height limitations dated back decades and prevented the design and construction of larger and taller buildings. In 2014, the American Wood Council (AWC) began developing a plan to expand these limits, but recognized it would require the International Building Code, the predominant model code adopted in most local and state jurisdictions in the United States, to embrace a new type of construction: fire-resistance-rated tall mass timber.

Effect of utilization of rice husk ash on hardened properties of recycled concrete aggregate

The manufacturing of Portland cement accounts for more than 5 percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. The rising expense of conventional building materials, as well as the need to ensure long-term growth in the construction industry, have encouraged designers and developers to investigate alternate materials for use in civil engineering constructions. An excellent way to accomplish this is to make use of agricultural byproducts. They can be employed as cementing materials because of their pozzolanic tendency, which would otherwise necessitate the usage of enormous areas of land for the dumping of these agricultural byproducts. As a result of the existence of these components within concrete not only helps to minimize carbon dioxide emissions, but it also contributes to the major enhancement in the workability, and durability of the concrete. Goal of this research is to discover whether or not it is feasible to use rice husk ash as a concrete addition., as well as efforts were undertaken to determine the parameter affecting concrete's strength (Compressive strength). The IS technique of mix design was used to control concrete, and a mix design for replacement approach was created using this as a foundation. In terms of replacement approach, five distinct replacement levels of rice husk ash (RHA) have been selected for the study: 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%. A 25% of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) has been selected as a partial replacement of virgin coarse aggregate in the mix. The present study takes into account a wide duration of time needed for cure ranging from 7 days to 14 days to 28 days. According to the findings, the compressive strength gradually improves from 7 days to 14 days after the experiment, and additionally, there is a considerable improvement in strength (compressive) from 7 days to 28 days.

A reconnaissance study on tensile strength of bamboo based on global database

Bamboo is an alternative to conventional building materials such as concrete, steel, and timber. Compared to timber, in particular, bamboo reaches an age of maturity faster (typically three to four years to reach maturity). Hence, systematic farming of bamboos can provide a sustainable supply for the construction industry. In this study, three bamboo species native to Sarawak, Malaysia (namely Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus asper, and Gigantochloa levis) were identified as potential materials for structural use in construction. Given that the tensile strengths of these local bamboos have not been characterized by extensive testing, a reconnaissance survey on the tensile strengths (obtained from coupon tests fabricated from bamboo culms) was carried out. Findings from the compiled database suggest that the reported average ultimate tensile strength of tested bamboo was less than half of the characteristic yield strength of steel, which unjustified the complete replacement of steel by bamboo in reinforced concrete. Also, the nodes (internal diaphragms and external ridge) have significantly lower strength than the internodes stem of the bamboo, contrary to previous researchers claiming that the periodic nodes have a beneficial biomechanical function.

Carbon reduction and economic evaluation of building attached photovoltaic systems

The sole objective of sustainable buildings is to reduce the energy demand and provide a new, renewable, and clean energy source. Building attached photovoltaic system (BAPV) is one of the latest technologies in the building where PV becomes part and parcel of the building either on the facade or on the roof thereby reducing the construction cost in addition to generating electricity. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the cost-economics of facade and roof. The cost-economics of the horizontal BAPV (Facade), tilted BAPV (roof), and vertical BAPV (Facade) have been carried out. The proposed analysis throws some light on the most cost-efficient PV system. The horizontal BAPV (Facade) was found the most cost-effective viable option that replaces the conventional building material used for overhang construction and was the most economical. Thus, the present analysis will pave the way for PV integrated building, guide the end-users, and convince the policymakers to involve subsidies and incentives. In addition to the system economics, the saving of about 22,571 ton/yr of CO2 in its lifetime was assessed. Therefore carbon mitigation was also achieved and used for comparison of the above systems.

Comparative study on Conventional and Smart Building Material in terms of TQC

Abstract: There are several new-age „smart‟ building materials which are cost effective and long lasting and which would help to build or rebuild smart buildings, as a more eco- friendly and sustainable habitat. In India since ancient time construction is done by using conventional building materials. But now a days concept of smart building materials is introduced. These are durable, eco-friendly, cost effective. Still use of conventional materials is more than smart building materials. Due to lack of knowledge about smart building materials we don't use such materials. Control over quality and sustainability of finished building. Justification of the environmental cost of manufactures. So with the help of project i.e. Comparative study between smart and conventional building, there is comparison as per cost, strength, durability. In this, how both buildings are different in their features like long lasting life, implementation of materials, speed of construction, sustainability of materials is shown. For this project there is use of software for developing, analyzing and designing the reinforced concrete building. Keywords: smart material, conventional material, cost

A Review on Usage of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks in Masonry in Central Region of Chhattisgarh

Environmental crises due to air pollution & soil degradation have been a worrisome domain for ages due to the usage of few traditional materials such as red brick in the construction industry. As per projection by the global status report 2016, building constructions will grow by 50% in 2050. Therefore, we need to cater to the demand for new construction without harming the environment. In response to these challenges such as scarcity of resources, air pollution, dependability on fertile soil, etc.; Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) blocks have gained widespread use in many areas including Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the Far East. But its major disadvantage is its crack formation in masonry. This review article focusses on the use of AAC block in place of traditional bricks and to minimize its major disadvantage of crack formation on masonry for the best optimum use of this novel material by seeking the best possible techniques for application in masonry & spread awareness about these blocks to bring it in the mainstream as an alternative to conventional building material in Chhattisgarh.

Hourly and Day Ahead Power Prediction of Building Integrated Semitransparent Photovoltaic System

The building integrated semitransparent photovoltaic (BISTPV) system is an emerging technology which replaces the conventional building material envelopes and roof. The performance prediction of the BISTPV system places a vital role in the reduction of the energy consumption in the building. In this work, the artificial neural network (ANN) is used to predict the performance of this system by optimizing the important parameter of the feature selection. The Elman neural network (EN) algorithm, feed forward neural network (FN), and generalized regression neural network model (GRN) are investigated in this study. The performance metrics of the errors are analysed such as the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and mean square root (MSE). According to the findings, the model behaves consistently at the specified time and place in the experiment. Forecasters utilizing neural network models will have better accuracy if they use techniques like EN, FFN, and GRN having the RMSE of 0.25, 0.37, and 0.45, respectively.

Cost-benefit analysis of conventional and modern building materials for sustainable development of social housing

More than a quarter of the global energy goes into buildings. Future projections estimate a considerable growth in energy utilisation (from fossil fuels) for residential and commercial buildings. With the growing population and subsequent rise in the number of people with less-than-ideal housing conditions, it is imperative to have affordable and sustainable residences. Even with the sincere efforts to provide community or social housing to people in India using government-aided schemes, it does not offer an economically viable solution to the people on the lower rungs of the society. Hence, it is crucial to reduce energy consumption wherever possible, starting from the production and construction stages. The energy used can be minimised by selecting materials with lesser embodied energy. A comparative study between Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) and red fired bricks are presented in this research. The paper discusses the advantage of using sustainable building materials highlighted by the comprehensive analysis of the cost and impact on sustainability between these two materials.

Comparative LCAs of Conventional and Mass Timber Buildings in Regions with Potential for Mass Timber Penetration

Manufacturing of building materials and construction of buildings make up 11% of the global greenhouse gas emission by sector. Mass timber construction has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by moving wood into buildings with designs that have traditionally been dominated by steel and concrete. The environmental impacts of mass timber buildings were compared against those of functionally equivalent conventional buildings. Three pairs of buildings were designed for the Pacific Northwest, Northeast and Southeast regions in the United States to conform to mass timber building types with 8, 12, or 18 stories. Conventional buildings constructed with concrete and steel were designed for comparisons with the mass timber buildings. Over all regions and building heights, the mass timber buildings exhibited a reduction in the embodied carbon varying between 22% and 50% compared to the concrete buildings. Embodied carbon per unit of area increased with building height as the quantity of concrete, metals, and other nonrenewable materials increased. Total embodied energy to produce, transport, and construct A1–A5 materials was higher in all mass timber buildings compared to equivalent concrete. Further research is needed to predict the long-term carbon emissions and carbon mitigation potential of mass timber buildings to conventional building materials.

Assessment of hygrothermal performance of hemp concrete compared to conventional building materials at overall building scale

The aim of this paper is to analyse the impact of hemp concrete on the overall hygrothermal behaviour of the building when it used as an infill layer in the envelope of wood-frame structures. Three wall configurations were considered in different climates. Then, a hygrothermal co-simulation approach was used to integrate the model of coupled heat and moisture transfer through multilayered walls in a dynamic thermal simulation tool for the building. The material properties which constitute the input parameters for the model were determined experimentally, according to the hygrothermal state of the material. The results showed that hemp concrete significantly reduces the energy consumption of the building and has better insulation properties than the two conventional building materials: brick and aerated concrete. This is justified by the good hygrothermal properties of this bio-based material, especially its high thermal resistance of 3.08 K.m2/W compared to 0.88 K.m2/W of brick and 2.28 K.m2/W of aerated concrete. In addition, for the three climates considered, the thermal comfort of the hemp concrete envelope is significantly improved. This material also allows stabilisation of relative humidity levels in the ambient air by naturally regulating the hygrometry, to ensure better ambience. The study shows that hemp concrete has interesting hygrothermal properties. Thus, this material can be used massively in the construction field in order to meet the requirements of the current standards which aim to reduce the energy and environmental impacts of dwelling and office building.

Dynamic analysis of daylight factor, thermal comfort and energy performance under clear sky conditions for building: An experimental validation

This work focuses on daylighting performance analysis and its energy savings potential for residential building by using dynamic simulation and its experimental validation. The thermal performance of nano building material and its comparison with conventional building material has also been analyzed. The daylight factor was found in between 1 and 11% and 1–21% for the floor and wall, which is within the thermal comfort limit. The theoretical model results are compared with experimental values. The best building orientation was found to be 180° from the north or towards the south. Wind speed was found to be more than 30 kmph, which is used effectively in the natural ventilation of the building envelop. It leads to optimization of the room temperature. The heat transfer parameters, including the quantity of heat lost and gained through fabrics, thermal properties of nanomaterial have been compared with conventional building materials. The U value (heat loss coefficient) of building material defines building performance at a particular orientation. The U- values decreased to 8 times in-wall and 8.67 times in the roof of the building envelope compared to conventional building material. The model was experimentally validated, and there is close agreement between simulated and experimental daylight factor values with root mean percentage error of 1.24%. The total uncertainty in experimental measurement was found out to be 0.1421%, which is within the expectable range. Present study can be implemented in any building design with minimum modifications in any part of the world.

Recent progress on hygroscopic materials for indoor moisture buffering

Once in contact with the indoor air, hygroscopic materials can moderate the indoor humidity fluctuation by adsorbing or releasing water vapour, and then improve the moisture regulation and thermal management of buildings. It is desirable to explore the characterized properties of these materials about moisture buffering behaviour. In this regard, we review various hygroscopic materials used for the built environment control. The hygrothermal properties of hygroscopic materials often can be characterized by some parameters, such as water vapour adsorption/desorption capacity, water vapour adsorption/desorption rate, water vapour diffusion coefficient, and so on. To provide an insight on the existing research on humidity control materials, different research studies and the recent progress on humidity control materials have been summarized. The materials include traditional and conventional building materials, some natural materials, and novel humidity control materials. Besides, the relevant parameters are considered as well as the improvement suggestions to enhance the application of humidity control materials in building environments. Finally, new multifunctional materials and intelligent moisture control materials together with the corresponding systems are collated to summarize the latest research trends. The overview of the application of hygroscopic materials can provide current and future researchers guidelines for the science-oriented design of moisture control systems for new energy-efficient buildings.

Ecological Footprint of Residential Buildings in Composite Climate of India—A Case Study

Buildings are accountable for waste generation, utilization of natural resources, and ecological contamination. The construction sector is one of the biggest consumers of resources available naturally and is responsible for significant CO2 emissions on the planet. The effects of the buildings on the environment are commonly determined using Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). The investigation and comparison of the Life Cycle Ecological Footprint (LCEF) and Life Cycle Energy (LCE) of five residential buildings situated in the composite climatic zone of India is presented in this study. The utilization of resources (building materials) along with developing a mobile application and a generic model to choose low emission material is the uniqueness of this study. The utilization of eco-friendly building materials and how these are more efficient than conventional building materials are also discussed. In this investigation, the two approaches, (a) Life Cycle Energy Assessment (LCEA) and (b) Life Cycle Ecological Footprint (LCEF), are discussed to evaluate the impacts of building materials on the environment. The energy embedded due to the materials used in a building is calculated to demonstrate the prevalence of innovative construction techniques over traditional materials. The generic model developed to assess the LCEA of residential buildings in the composite climate of India and the other results show that the utilization of low-energy building materials brings about a significant decrease in the LCEF and the LCE of the buildings. The results are suitable for a similar typology of buildings elsewhere in different climatic zone as well. The MATLAB model presented will help researchers globally to follow-up or replicate the study in their country. The developed user-friendly mobile application will enhance the awareness related to energy, environment, ecology, and sustainable development in the general public. This study can help in understanding and thus reducing the ecological burden of building materials, eventually leading towards sustainable development.

Sustainable Local Materials: A Study of Adobe Bricks in Saudi Arabia

The importance of local building materials has long been a significant point in all communities for thousands of years. It is well established that local materials form the backbone of construction in societies as they are the best response to the region's climate conditions. This study aims to determine the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing local materials in building construction. Specifically, it focuses on analyzing adobe bricks and examines whether it is suitable for the modern times. Saudi Arabia, a country that extensively relied on petroleum to flourish, is re-establishing itself by introducing the Saudi Vision 2030, a call of action to rely on available sustainable assets to develop the country. In this context, this research intends to demonstrate how promoting local materials' usage in construction would correspond with the vision's aims. This paper attempts to raise awareness about the local alternatives available and encourage utilizing them rather than the conventional building materials widely used, which are often not entirely suitable for Saudi Arabia's harsh desert climate. To further support this research, historical research proved that buildings built with local materials had withstood the test of time. This paper explores adobe as a case study because it is a unique building material in its style and sustainability. The intensive research results revealed that adobe bricks are a versatile material that gives different characteristics depending on the mixture of materials used to make them. On this basis, this paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of adobe bricks while proposing potential solutions to overcome the drawbacks.

Behaviour of various framed timber joints: Capacity and improved design rules

Unlike conventional building materials like concrete, steel, aluminium, etc., timber offers a sustainable alternative due to its economy and energy efficiency and lesser carbon footprint. However, timber-framed structures possess joints as the most vulnerable elements despite their remarkable seismic resistance, having high damage susceptibility. Past studies on timber frames have mainly stressed the frame behaviour with a specific joint profile rather than the performance of various joint forms, commonly employed in timber construction. Additionally, studies to refine the joint details by optimizing the same are minimal. Thus, in the present research, using the results from the tests performed earlier on different joints (in terms of joint profile, nailed only, and nailed and with adhesive), the experimental data was used to model the observed behaviour numerically in ABAQUS. The FE models were validated and subsequently used in conducting parametric studies to obtain data over a broader domain to evaluate the effect of geometrical modifications on the joint behaviour. This facilitated in obtaining optimal joint profiles and helped in bringing out various recommendations on the same. Moreover, the numerical peak load values were compared against the design strengths evaluated using National Design Specifications (NDS)-2018 guidelines to ascertain the prediction accuracy. This comparison revealed that the predicted joint strengths varied from being unconservative to being extremely over-conservative. Thus, to improve the strength prediction using NDS-2018 guidelines, modification factors were brought out.