Conventional Construction Materials Research Articles

Structural design of reinforced earthcrete (ReC) beams

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental campaign aimed at evaluating the feasibility of using steel-reinforced earthen materials for load-bearing structural applications, with a focus on a new category termed "shot-earth". Addressing excavated soil, a major source of construction waste, shot-earth demonstrates remarkable properties, such as notable green strength and reduced water sensitivity. The experimental program includes four-point bending tests on steel-reinforced shot-earth beams, along with pull-out tests to assess the adherence between ribbed steel bars and shot-earth. A flexural design approach, traditionally suited for reinforced concrete, is presented and validated to establish a reliable model for reinforced shot-earth elements in bending state. These findings suggest that leveraging existing models for reinforced concrete can overcome some traditional challenges associated with earth-based constructions, promoting them as a viable and ecological alternative to conventional construction materials.

Building a sustainable future: evaluating eco-friendly materials for energy efficiency and climate change mitigation

ABSTRACT Rapid population growth has increased housing demand. This demand was mainly addressed using conventional and unsustainable construction materials, which raised concerns about intensifying global warming. Economically challenged communities lacking access to cooling systems are more vulnerable to climate change effects. This research proposes strategies to address future climate change challenges, assessing the energy efficiency of a lab-developed eco-friendly construction material. A TRNSYS-based model was used in this study to evaluate four materials: rammed earth, hemp-lime bricks, DOUM fibre-stabilized material with quicklime, and cinder blocks in a real-scale building. Prior to the energy assessment, GenOpt software was used to ensure efficient building design. Optimizing the building's envelope can reduce annual thermal loads by up to 52%. The DOUM-clay brick house, with high thermal mass, exhibits significant potential. In comparison, the cooling loads of the cinder block, the rammed earth, and the hemp clay houses are 24.8%, 11.9%, and 9.2% lower, respectively. Additionally, the study considers the impact of climate change on buildings in a hot, semi-arid climate. The findings reveal a 20.3% lower thermal load for the lab-developed brick house compared to the cinder block house. The study also anticipates a reduction in natural ventilation’s potential in the future.

To study the effect of polypropylene fibre in concrete to increase the strength of concrete structures

The research project on the impact of polypropylene Fibercon on the strength of concrete structures will be beneficial in its potential application in conventional construction works as well as repair works, as the scarcity of conventional construction materials is causing many problems in construction practices like refurbishment or the construction of new structures. In the proposed effort, the use of polypropylene fibers as a reinforcing material for concrete buildings will be thoroughly examined. Flexural strength, tensile strength, and compressive strength are the parameters that will be examined in order to analyze the performance. Key Words: Compressive strength, Eco -friendly, Economical, Polypropylene fibre, seismic resistance.

Comparative Analysis of Glass-Basalt-Plastic Materials for Construction in Arctic Conditions

This research presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of glass-basalt-plastic (GBP) materials intended for construction purposes in challenging Arctic conditions. The study investigates the mechanical, thermal, and durability properties of GBP composites, considering their potential application in structures subjected to extreme cold temperatures and other environmental challenges prevalent in Arctic regions. Through a series of experimental evaluations and analytical assessments, we aim to provide insights into the performance characteristics of GBP materials when compared to conventional construction materials. The findings of this research contribute to the understanding of the suitability and limitations of GBP composites in Arctic construction, addressing key factors such as structural integrity, thermal insulation, and resistance to environmental degradation. The results presented in this article serve as a valuable resource for engineers, architects, and researchers involved in the design and implementation of infrastructure projects in Arctic environments. As the demand for sustainable and resilient construction materials grows, this study offers a timely exploration of the potential benefits and considerations associated with the use of GBP materials in extreme climatic conditions.

Assessment of energy conversion for the needs of hydrogen production and storage in terms of environmental impact

Generating clean energy is necessary due to the increasing demand resulting from the development of human civilization and the global economy. The generation of clean energy is justified by the need to reduce the negative impact on the natural environment. Every action aimed at converting one form of energy into another carries consequences related to the efficiency of the transformation process and the physicochemical properties characterizing the systems of its utilization. Special attention should be paid to hydrogen, which is a fuel with high activity in terms of penetration through the structures of conventional construction materials, and there is a high probability of significant emissions of this fuel from its storage and transportation processes. This situation worsens the overall efficiency of the hydrogen utilization process but also necessitates the identification of the consequences of hydrogen emissions into the atmosphere. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of energy conversion for the purposes of hydrogen production and storage in terms of environmental impact is necessary. The conducted analyses are presented in this article.

Reuse of Industrial By-products in Construction using Geopolymerization

This study explores the reuse of industrial by-products in construction through geopolymerization, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. In light of the growing demand for environmentally friendly building practices, this research aims to evaluate geopolymer concrete made with industrial by-products as a viable substitute for traditional concrete. The introduction highlights the importance of sustainable construction and the potential of geopolymer technology in reducing environmental impacts. A comprehensive review of the composition, properties, and previous studies on geopolymer concrete using industrial waste materials is provided. The research methodology outlines the objectives, materials used, experimental framework, and testing protocols. Results on compressive strength, flexural strength, and durability of the geopolymer concrete samples are discussed in detail in the results and analysis section. The discussion interprets the findings, focusing on the enhanced strength and durability achieved through the incorporation of industrial by-products. The study concludes with a summary of key outcomes, implications for the construction industry, and recommendations for future applications and research on geopolymer concrete using industrial waste.

Multicriteria analysis for quantifying sustainability of developed load bearing lightweight geopolymer

In geopolymers, several factors such as the limited availability of amorphous aluminosilicate material, the need for a high dosage of activator, the requirement for hot curing conditions, and the activation by pressure pose challenges in considering geopolymer as a sustainable load-bearing material. Therefore, this experimental and analytical work aimed to address the aforementioned issues. The experimental work was carried out in four distinct series, where fly ash (FA) was combined with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), slag (GGBS), and lime. The alkaline to precursor (A/P) ratio and curing conditions were varied. Initially, the compression casting approach was employed to reduce the dosage of activator. But later on, lime was added to prevent such a technique, and the alkaline dosage was reduced due to occupying effect. Thereafter, three key performance indices of sustainability were quantified: load-bearing lightweight (Dp), environment (Ep), and economic (Cp). These indices were determined by normalizing density, CO2 emissions, and cost by compressive strength, respectively. It was observed that FA-lime-based mortar is a sustainable geopolymer. It is ambiently cured and has the least alkaline activator, high strength, minimal CO2 emissions, and low cost. It was also compared to conventional construction materials such as fired clay brick and concrete, and promising results were obtained. Sustainable quantification was conducted analytically by extracting seven alternatives from four series and analyzing a 7 × 7 decision matrix using the multicriteria decision-making technique. The FA-lime-based specimen was selected experimentally and verified analytically, along with a prioritized list of all specimens.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Geopolymer Mixtures Containing Chronologically Aged Basic Oxygen Furnace Slags

Applying industrial by-products as a substitution for conventional construction materials (natural resources) is a superior solution for the environment in terms of waste management and reduction in greenhouse emissions and for the construction industry in terms of cost and expenditure. Applying basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), one of the metallurgical industry by-products, as a construction material can be a high-potential and promising idea. However, the utilization of BOFS in construction applications is considerably limited because of its inherent characteristics leading to volumetric expansion behavior caused by the chemical reaction between free lime (f-CaO) and water. This study used geopolymer technology to stabilize the expansive behavior of chronologically aged BOFS aggregates. The compressive strength, expansion behavior, and drying shrinkage characteristics of a normal ordinary Portland cement (OPC) mixture and a geopolymer mixture containing siliceous river sand and chronologically aged BOFS aggregates were investigated. The test results showed that the compressive strength of geopolymer mixtures containing chronologically aged BOFS aggregate achieved 64.02 MPa, and the expansion behavior of geopolymer mixtures was improved compared with normal OPC mixtures containing the same BOFS aggregates, reaching 0.02% and 0.44%, respectively. However, due to the air-curing method, geopolymer mixtures had higher drying shrinkage values than normal OPC mixtures. Therefore, further studies should be conducted to investigate how to control the drying shrinkage of geopolymer mixtures containing chronologically aged BOFS aggregate.

Soft computing techniques to predict the compressive strength of groundnut shell ash-blended concrete

Using groundnut shell ash (GSA) as a component in concrete mixtures is a viable approach to achieving sustainability in building practices. This particular kind of concrete has the potential to effectively mitigate the issues associated with high levels of CO2 emissions and embodied energy, which are primarily attributed to the excessive utilization of cement in conventional construction materials. When GSA is utilized as a partial replacement for cement, the strength characteristics of concrete are influenced not only by the quantity of GSA replacement but also by several other factors, including cement content, water-to-cement ratio, coarse aggregate content, fine aggregate content, and curing length. This work demonstrates a predictive model for the compressive strength (CS) of GSA mixed concrete using ML methods. The models were constructed with 297 datasets obtained from published literature. These datasets included various input variables such as cement content, GSA content, fine aggregate content, coarse aggregate content, water need, and curing duration. The output variable included in the models was the CS of concrete. In this study, a set of seven machine learning algorithms was utilized as statistical assessment tools to identify the most precise and reliable model for predicting the CS of GSA mixed concrete. These techniques included linear regression, full quadratic model, artificial neural network, boosted decision tree regression, random forest regression, K nearest neighbors, and support vector regression. The present study evaluated several machine learning models, and it was shown that the random forest regression model had superior performance in forecasting the CS of GSA mixed concrete. The train data’s R2 is 0.91, with RMSE of 2.48 MPa. Similarly, for the test data, the R2 value is 0.89, with an RMSE of 2.42 MPa. The sensitivity analysis results of the random forest regression model indicate that the cement content primarily drives the material’s CS. Subsequently, the curing period and GSA content significantly impact the CS. This work systematically evaluates the CS of GSA mixed concrete, contributing to the existing body of knowledge and practical implementation in this domain.

“Bamboo: A Very Sustainable Construction Material & the 3rd World Symposium on Sustainable Bio-Composite Materials and Structures” - 2022 International Conference summary report

The 2022 International Conference—Bamboo: A Very Sustainable Construction Material & the 3rd World Symposium on Sustainable Bio-Composite Materials and Structures—was held from November 8 to December 13, 2022. This conference was led by INBAR and INBAR Bamboo Construction Task Force and co-organized by 37 other national and international institutions. More than 80 experts from over 20 countries delivered speeches or presentations to approximately 1400 participants from 81 countries and shared the latest research and development on bamboo and timber construction with them. The conference convened global architects, engineers, forestry experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy makers to present the potential uses and suitability of bamboo, timber, and other biomaterials as conventional construction materials in modern society. This paper summarizes the key deliberations and findings of the diverse research, including the state-of-practice and the means of moving the state-of-the-art forward. Further actions on training, standardization, and research were urged to be taken to promote this industry.

Impact of Eggshell Powder on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Lightweight Geopolymer

Adopting proper waste management technology in the place of the construction industry to the extent possible to lower the production of new materials and intern reduces the environmental impact pertaining to the industry. In this work, eggshell powder (ESP; waste from the poultry industry) and fly ash (FA; waste from combustion of coal) were utilized as precursors for producing geopolymer and to substitute conventional cement-based construction materials. Three different weight percentage ratios of precursors, namely, 90FA:10ESP, 80FA:20ESP, and 70FA:30ESP were reinforced with two different weight percentages, namely, 15 and 30 wt% of paddy straw in the presence of suitable combinations of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide to obtain lightweight geopolymer panels. Results received from different analytical tests, namely, density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength infer that the incorporation of ESP enhances the performance of the geopolymer products to a considerable extent. The specimen sample made using 70FA:30ESP in the absence of paddy straw reinforcement possesses a compressive strength value of 15.64 MPa, which is higher than that of paddy straw reinforced panels. It was observed that there was a reverse trend noticed in the case of flexural behavior on reinforcement of paddy straw, namely, 15 wt% possesses a higher value than that of the panel (70FA:30ESP) made using in the absence of reinforcement. The lowest thermal conductivity value was observed at 0.0633 W/m·K for the sample 90FA:10ESP reinforced with 30% paddy straw. Data from different studies infer that using ESP and paddy straw reinforcement influences strength properties and thermal conductivity. The present study indicates valid information related to the using biowastes for the production of insulation materials and environmental preservation and energy conservation.

Environmental performance of autoclaved aerated concrete in the USA

AbstractAutoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a lightweight, cellular concrete, and eco‐friendly building material that has a low environmental impact at all stages of its life cycle. Production of AAC requires less energy than other masonry products, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and associated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. AAC is an environmentally responsible building material that conserves material and energy consumption during manufacture as well as promotes energy efficiency in the performance of buildings.Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the chosen method to evaluate the environmental performance of AAC, which is summarized in identifying, evaluating, and interpreting the environmental effects including material, natural resources, energy consumption, environmental burdens of a product, process, or activity. A cradle to gate (CTGt) analysis is chosen for this study which assesses a product's environmental footprint from raw materials extraction until the end of manufacturing. LCA has been conducted for an arbitrary facility in the USA, assumed to be located in the state of Georgia. The expected annual production and facility energy consumption is based on the business model of Xella's German facilities.The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of AAC performance as an efficient building material with an environmentally friendly advantage compared to other conventional construction materials.

Modular sandwich panel system for non-loadbearing walls – Experimental mechanical, fire and acoustic testing

Investment in the construction industry has increased over the last years and conventional construction materials, techniques, solutions and practices cannot meet the current needs. Resources are not being used to their full potential and there is a lack of manpower. It is vital to evolve encouraging sustainable and quality cost-effective materials, techniques, solutions and practices, therefore also enhancing the construction workers’ quality of life. This work proposes a new modular sandwich panel system for interior walls partition applications. The modular sandwich panel is made of an extruded polystyrene boards (XPS) core and has three options as facesheets: gypsum plasterboard (PGC), fire resistant gypsum plasterboard (PGF) and magnesium oxide board (MGO). This is an alternative solution for partition walls based on five main factors: it has the potential to be reused; its modules are self-supported (they do not need vertical metal studs from floor to ceiling); it is easy to install (on-site) by only two people; it is quick to install; and it provides easy local access to the interior of sanitary facilities. This work also includes experimental research for evaluation of proposed the wall solution in terms of mechanical resistance and stability, fire safety and airborne sound insulation between adjacent rooms. Mechanical resistance testing includes impact resistance tests, simple compression load tests, sanitary appliance load tests and endurance cycle load tests. Fire resistance testing allows to assess the integrity and maintenance of the panel wall under fire conditions. Acoustic experiments aim to determine the weighted standardised sound level difference (DnT,w) between adjacent compartments separated by the proposed panel wall system. Mechanical resistance tests indicate that the panel wall system has acceptable mechanical performance, including the connections between the panel wall modules. Results indicate that fire resistance and sound insulation characteristics of the panel wall can be enhanced.

Building Blocks: Sustainable Solution for Waste Management

This community service program focuses on overcoming the challenges of inorganic waste through the production of blocks. The program aims to provide sustainable solutions for waste management while encouraging community engagement and development. By collecting, processing, and utilizing inorganic waste. This program produces innovative and environmentally friendly blocks known as waste blocks. These blocks serve as a viable alternative to traditional construction materials, contributing to a circular economy. Active community participation in waste management is a core aspect of the program, where residents sort and donate inorganic waste materials for block production. This reduces waste and diverts materials from landfills, promoting sustainable waste management practices and circular economy principles. Moreover, the utilization of waste blocks in construction projects promotes sustainable building practices, leading to the reduced environmental impact associated with conventional construction materials. By working together, communities can achieve positive environmental and socio-economic impacts, including waste reduction, skills development, market opportunities, and the promotion of sustainable construction practices. Ultimately, this community service program empowers communities to contribute to a cleaner environment while enhancing their development and resilience

Comparative Study to Assess the Thermal Behaviour of Sandwich Roof Panels with Coconut Fibre as an Alternative Core Material to Polyurethane

Sandwich panels (modular panels) promote optimal solutions to some major issues prevailing in the construction industry such as increased energy consumption by building elements, excessive disposal of constructional waste and unproductive time spent during construction. Hence, the inclination towards sandwich elements has been increased vastly deviating from conventional building construction materials and methods. However, the potentiality of using locally available natural materials for the development of sandwich panels is a salient sustainable approach that needs to be addressed. This study evaluates the current and potential materials used in modular panels and key properties of sandwich panels including mechanical, thermal insulation, and sound insulation properties. Moreover, various test methods followed, and standards specified to investigate the mechanical, thermal and acoustic insulation properties are also discussed. The possibility of using coconut fibre as a locally available natural alternative core material to polyurethane core of sandwich panels has been evaluated using simulations based on the material properties obtained from literature. The study identifies coconut fibre as a potential alternative core material for sandwich roof panels as it reflects nearly similar thermal behaviour to polyurethane.

Sustainable cementitious composites with 30% porosity and a compressive strength of 30 MPa

Many researchers have tried to increase the porosity of cement-based materials for different applications, but a limitation of the existing technology is that it is difficult to achieve more than 30 MPa compressive strength for materials that have a porosity of more than 30%. To overcome the decrease in compressive strength, some studies have developed fly ash-based foam geopolymers with silica fume as the foaming agent. However, this material requires heat curing and has a rapid setting problem. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a material that can maintain compressive strength above 30 MPa while increasing the porosity to 30%, solving the curing problem, and extending the setting time. This study proposes a sustainable material design based on the concept of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) and a fly ash–based foamed geopolymer. The results show that the proposed material can generate porosity of more than 30% and maintain a compressive strength above 30 MPa while the rapid setting and curing limitation problems are solved. Moreover, the developed cementitious composite was proven to reduce CO2 emissions by 31.91% compared to conventional construction materials, which highlights that the newly developed material can be classified as a low carbon construction material.

Greener, smarter, stronger: Self-sensing construction materials from one-part alkali-activated materials

The future of smart construction relies on the development of smarter construction materials that offer multifunctional properties. Alkali-activated materials are smart, self-sensing construction materials that are more scalable, affordable, and reproducible than conventional self-sensing composites. This study presents the first self-sensing alkali-activated material that achieves compressive strength above 50 MPa and highly piezoresistive (58% at 10 MPa) without the need for conductive additives. This is an exceptional improvement to conventional smart construction materials for structural health monitoring.

Bulk Glass Reinforced Composite Columns: Physical Testing Results, Analysis, and Discussion

Glass-reinforced composite columns (GRCCs) may provide an economical alternative to conventional construction materials due to the superior cost to strength provided by bulk glass. Prior to this study, no GRCCs had been physically tested, having previously relied on simulation to predict the behavior of the columns. This study utilizes polyurethane resin bonds in place of sizing agents for adherence between materials, a key requirement for the development of the structural system of the columns. The unreinforced control column failed at a load of 11.2 kN while the maximum GRCC load was 30.8 kN. This indicates that glass can be loaded to 123 MPa before the onset of delamination failure of the GRCCs. Maximum shear stress of 53 MPa was reached, exceeding the 11 MPa required for practical GRCCs. Buckling of the columns occurred at 30.8 kN, below the theoretical maximum of 64.4 kN. Through gradual delamination, the column slowly transferred to an unbonded condition, causing buckling failure. Delamination is unlikely to occur in practical GRCCs due to the lower required shear strengths.

Combination of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Sewage Sludge Ash (SSA) as sustainable replacement material for cement in concrete

Increase in the demand of conventional construction materials and the need for providing a sustainable growth in the construction field has prompted the designers and developers to opt for ‘alternative materials’ feasible for use in construction. For this objective, the use of industrial waste products and agricultural by products are very constructive. These industrial wastes and agricultural by products such as Rice Husk Ash and Sewage Sludge Ash can be replaced instead of cement because of their pozzolanic behaviour, which otherwise requires large tract of lands for dumping. In the present investigation, Rice Husk Ash has been used as an admixture to cement in concrete and its properties has been studied. An attempt was also done to examine the strength and workability parameters of concrete. Five different replacement levels namely 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% are selected and studied with respect to the replacement method. The samples had been tested with non-destructive test to compare with normal concrete (OPC). There was an increment in number of concretes at 10% amount replacement SSA and RHA, but the rebound number declined when the amount replacement SSA and RHA are developing more than 10%. In addition, the concrete also showed increasing of compressive strength within the additional curing period, which was 7 days and 28 days. The overall results indicated that the properties and performance of concrete with 10% of combination of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Sewage Sludge Ash (SSA) replacement had reached the most optimum values on the measured.

Fiber incorporation and crack control: A synergistic approach to improving serviceability of RC concrete

This research elaborates on how cracking affects RC fiber concrete serviceability. It describes the different forms of fibrous concrete and how they function under cracking impact, enhancing concrete structure serviceability. Practical mechanical behavior language is often used to assess materials' performance. Historical assessment should help create experiences using RC fiber concrete, which reduces cracking and enhances concrete structures' serviceability. The issue is chronologically linked through early and modern author references. However, fibrous concrete's construction path is desirable worldwide. Fibrous concrete is employed in many building applications, from rehabilitation to new construction, due to its advantages over conventional construction materials. Lightness, high mechanical performance, the ability to manufacture in any form, ease of assembly, and a reduced need for supporting structures, controlled anisotropy, high specific strength, and specific stiffness all improve the serviceability of concrete structures. Fibrous concrete's many properties are opening new construction industry pathways. Thus, this research reviews the present use of fibrous concrete on cracks to improve concrete structure serviceability.