Development Of Sustainable Construction Materials Research Articles

Investigation into the strength and toughness of polyvinyl alcohol fiber-reinforced fly ash-based geopolymer composites

This study investigates the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber dosage and length on the porosity, mechanical strength, and toughness of fly ash-based geopolymer composites. The experimental data are analyzed to examine the deflection-load relationship in the flexural toughness tests of fiber-reinforced geopolymer composites (FRGPC) with different PVA fiber parameters. The results indicate that the addition of a certain amount of PVA fibers effectively enhances the flexural resistance of FRGPC. Particularly, the optimal performance is achieved with the addition of 2.0 vol% of 9 mm PVA fibers, where the 28-day flexural strength reaches 13.16 MPa, representing a 150.95 % increase compared to the control group, and the deflection at peak load increases by 308.00 %. However, the compressive strength of FRGPC with PVA fiber dosage at 1.6 vol%, 2.0 vol%, and 2.4 vol% decreases by 0.89 %, 6.39 %, and 10.13 %, respectively. Microscopic observations of FRGPC indicate that an increase in fiber dosage and length results in larger pores and uneven distribution of fibers. Notably, 12 mm PVA fibers exhibit significant aggregation, confirming the findings from mechanical property tests. This study, through an in-depth exploration of the mechanical properties of PVA fiber-reinforced fly ash-based geopolymer composites, provides crucial experimental data and a theoretical foundation for the development of sustainable construction materials.

The Thermo-Phase Change Reactivity of Textile and Cardboard Fibres in Varied Concrete Composites

The building and construction industry heavily relies on the use of concrete and cementitious composites due to their exceptional attributes, including strength and durability. However, the extensive use of these materials has led to significant environmental challenges, including resource depletion, carbon emissions, and waste accumulation. In response to these challenges, recent advancements in fibre cementitious composites have shown promise in mitigating these detrimental effects. The integration of waste materials to supplement manufactured fibres represents a promising development in reinforced concrete composite materials. Waste materials like textiles and cardboard are emerging as potential fibre supplements in cementitious composites. While these materials have primarily been investigated for their mechanical characteristics, understanding their thermal properties when applied in construction materials is equally crucial. Incorporating fibres within composite designs often requires matrix modification to reduce degradation and enhance fibre longevity. This study aims to investigate the thermo-phase change properties of both textile and cardboard fibres within varied concrete matrices. Additive materials offer a range of advantages and challenges when used in composite materials, with additional complexities arising when incorporating fibre materials. Understanding the thermal reactivity of these materials is crucial for optimizing their application in construction. This study demonstrates the potential of waste fibres used with gypsum, metakaolin, and silica fume as matrix modifiers in concrete. This research provides valuable insights for future studies to explore specific material combinations and investigate complex fire testing methods, ultimately contributing to the development of sustainable construction materials.

The use of machine learning techniques to investigate the properties of metakaolin-based geopolymer concrete

The construction industry significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the imperative for developing environmentally friendly construction materials. Geopolymers, particularly those utilizing metakaolin (MK), have emerged as a promising green alternative to conventional concrete. However, the acquisition of MK-based geopolymer concrete with optimal mechanical properties poses challenges due to numerous influential factors, disagreement over various findings, and the lack of a reliable predictive model. This study aimed to address this gap by employing a wide range of machine learning methods, namely gradient boosting machine, random forest, decision tree, artificial neural network, and support vector machine. Different optimization and regularization techniques were used to comprehensively understand the factors affecting the compressive strength of MK-based geopolymer concrete, including mixture design, chemical characteristics of the initial binder and activators, and different curing regimes. The results demonstrated the exceptional performance of the gradient boosting machine in predicting the compressive strength of MK-based geopolymer concrete, achieving a coefficient of determination of 0.983 and a mean absolute error of 1.615 MPa. Additionally, the study employed partial dependence plots, feature importance analysis, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to elucidate the proposed models. The coarse-to-fine aggregate ratio, H2O/Na2O molar ratio, extra water content, and sodium hydroxide concentration were identified as the most critical parameters affecting the compressive strength of MK-based geopolymer concrete. This research contributes to advancing the development of sustainable construction materials, streamlining experimental tasks, minimizing the need for labor and materials, improving time efficiency, and providing valuable insights for optimizing the design of MK-based geopolymer concrete.

Durability properties of lightweight concrete with ceramic mould casting waste

As economies and industrialisation have grown, the foundry industry has produced a significant amount of ceramic mould casting waste (CMCW). To promote resource utilisation, this study investigates recycling CMCW as a partial replacement for lightweight aggregates in lightweight concrete. The durability of lightweight concrete mixes with varying CMCW content was studied using surface electrical tests, ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements, non-steady-state accelerated chloride penetration tests and carbonation resistance experiments. The results indicate that a lightweight concrete containing 80% CMCW exhibited greater density and uniformity, greater resistance to chloride ion penetration and better resistance to carbonation. These findings suggest that CMCW can be an effective and sustainable replacement for lightweight aggregate in lightweight concrete, improving durability and environmental performance. This research contributes to the development of sustainable construction materials and provides insights for the use of CMCW in the foundry industry.

Utilizing industrial byproducts for the manufacture of clay-cellulose nanocomposite cements with enhanced sustainability

This study investigates the influence of different nano clay contents (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt% of cement) on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of cement composites reinforced with varying Nano cellulose fiber contents (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt% of cement). Unlike previous research that employed sonication to improve dispersion in the cement matrix, this study explores the effects of unsonicated nano-cellulose addition and the combined incorporation of nano-cellulose and nano-clay. The results demonstrate that these additions significantly enhance the compressive strength, abrasion resistance, and water absorption ratios of the cement composites. Furthermore, the inclusion of nano-clay improves the microstructure of the cement matrix, strengthening the interfacial transition zone and reinforcing the bond between nano-cellulose and the cement matrix. The microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals the presence of a dense interconnected structure characterized by rod-like crystals. This research contributes to the development of sustainable construction materials by examining the effects of nano-cellulose and nano-clay on the properties and microstructure of cement composites. The utilization of industrial byproducts, such as wood sawdust, for the extraction of nano-cellulose offers an eco-friendly approach to enhance the performance of cement-based materials. The maximum compressive strength obtained, after 28 days, was at mix with 0.75% NCL + 5%NC with a gain of 53.5% than that of the control mix. In mixes containing only nano-clay (NCL), the increase in NCL content led to a higher rate of water absorption in the cement matrix, which reaches 4%. Confirming the results obtained from compressive strength and water absorption, mix with 0.75% NCL and 5% NC had obtained the optimum values with an improvement of 20% than that of the control mix.

Preparation and Performance Investigation of Epoxy Resin-Based Permeable Concrete Containing Ceramsite.

Permeable concrete is an innovative type of concrete that provides a sustainable solution for stormwater management by allowing water to seep through and be filtered naturally. This study focuses on the preparation and performance investigation of an epoxy resin-based permeable concrete containing ceramsite. In this study, ceramsite, a lightweight aggregate, is used as a substitute for conventional aggregates in the concrete mixture. The epoxy resin is then added to improve the strength and durability of the concrete. A series of tests, including compressive strength, water permeability, and freeze-thaw resistance tests, are conducted to evaluate the performance of the epoxy resin-based permeable concrete. The results show that with an increasing epoxy resin binder-aggregate ratio, the compressive strength of the epoxy resin-based permeable concrete significantly increases while the permeability coefficient decreases. Different types of aggregates have varying effects on the compressive strength and permeability coefficient of epoxy resin-based permeable concrete, with high-strength clay ceramsite providing the highest compressive strength and lightweight ceramsite having the highest permeability coefficient. In addition, the discrete element simulation method effectively and feasibly determines the ultimate load and accurately simulates the compressive strength of the permeable cement-based mixture, consistent with the measured compressive strength. A quadratic polynomial regression analysis yielded an R2 value of around 0.93, showing a strong relationship between durability and freeze-thaw cycles. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable construction materials for stormwater management and offer potential applications in various infrastructure projects.

Effect of Volcanic Ash and Natural Pozzolana on mechanical properties of sustainable cement concrete: A comprehensive review

Environmental degradation is on the rise due to escalating pollution caused by raw material depletion and the increasing demand for concrete products. Consequently, researchers and scientists have dedicated significant efforts towards developing sustainable, eco-friendly concrete using renewable materials. Among these materials, Volcanic Ash (VA) and other Natural Pozzolana (NP) types have emerged as promising Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). VA and NP types play a crucial role in reducing costs, energy consumption, and environmental impacts associated with cement production. Thus, it is imperative to investigate the characteristics of VA and NP and their influence on the performance of concrete and cement mortar. This paper presents a comprehensive review of previous studies examining the effect of VA and other NP types on the mechanical properties of concrete while evaluating their chemical, physical, and microstructure characteristics. The findings from these studies indicate that the properties of concrete primarily depend on the characteristics and quantities of NP employed. Notably, silica dioxide (SiO2) comprises the predominant component in VA compositions. In most cases, an increase in VA and NP content within concrete mixtures leads to a reduction in strength. Finally, recommendations and suggestions for future research are provided to enhance concrete properties and achieve the development of sustainable construction materials.

Development of high-volume steel slag as cementitious material by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid induced accelerated carbonation

Steel slag, a by-product of primary steel production, is produced in large quantities and is primarily used as landfill or aggregate. Due to its high reactivity with CO2, steel slag can form calcium carbonate at room temperature and pressure, making it an ideal material for CO2 capture in the development of sustainable construction materials. Due to the transport properties of CO2 and carbonation kinetics, carbonation of steel slag is frequently carried out using pure gas under high pressure. In this study, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)-induced accelerated carbonation was used to produce cement paste mixes consisting of up to 100% steel slag powder. Combination of cement and EDTA with steel slag proved to be effective in accelerating the carbonation reaction. EDTA increased the leaching of Ca from the steel slag, thereby enhancing the carbonation reaction, which was more obvious in longer durations (up to 28 days). The optimum cement paste mix (80% steel slag and 20% cement, with 0.1 mol/L EDTA solution) achieved maximum compressive strength of 14 MPa and CO2 uptake of 8.7% after 28 days of accelerated carbonation. Results demonstrated that the use of high-volume steel slag as a cementitious material has great potential in non-structural building applications.

Wood sawdust waste-derived nano-cellulose as a versatile reinforcing agent for nano silica cement composites: a systematic study on its characterization and performance

The development of sustainable construction materials is a pressing concern for researchers worldwide, as the cement industry is a major contributor to environmental degradation. The incorporation of nano-materials with cement composites has emerged as a promising solution to sustainable materials production. In this study, the effect of the addition of nano cellulose produced from wood sawdust waste on the performance of cement-based nano-silica composite was investigated. The nano-materials were incorporated at low concentrations and in gel form to eliminate the need for any advanced dispersion techniques. The results indicated that the addition of even low concentrations of nano cellulose significantly enhanced the compactness and mechanical properties of the cement matrix. The crack propagation was observed to be arrested with better adherence to the cement hydration product, which resulted from the presence of nano-silica. The nano cellulose fibers were found to bridge the calcium silicate hydrate products, arresting the propagation of cracks at their initial condition. The high pozzolanic reactivity of nano-silica ensured a minimal amount of calcium hydroxide, which is a significant contributor to the carbon footprint of cement production. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that the incorporation of nano cellulose from wood sawdust waste with cement-based nano-silica composite can lead to the development of sustainable and high-performance building materials with improved mechanical properties and reduced environmental impact.

Carbonation and Leaching Behaviors of Cement-Free Monoliths Based on High-Sulfur Fly Ashes with the Incorporation of Amorphous Calcium Aluminate.

The high sulfate content in various alkaline wastes, including those from fossil fuel and biomass combustion, and other industrial processes, necessitates careful management when used in cementitious systems to prevent potential deterioration of construction materials and environmental safety concerns. This study explores the under-researched area of high-sulfur fly ash (HSFA) utilization in the production of cement-free monoliths through accelerated carbonation and further examines the effect of niobium slag (NS)-a calcium aluminate-containing slag-as an additive on the strength development and the mobility of SO42-. The methodology involves mineralogical and microstructural analyses of monoliths before and after carbonation, accounting for the effects of accelerated carbonation treatment and NS addition. The findings suggest that accelerated carbonation significantly improves the initial compressive strength of the HSFA monoliths and generally immobilizes heavy metals, while the effect on sulfate immobilization can vary depending on the ash composition. Moreover, the addition of NS further enhances strength without substantially hindering CO2 uptake, while reducing the leaching values, particularly of sulfates and heavy metals. These findings suggest that it is feasible to use calcium aluminate-containing NS in HSFA-based carbonated monoliths to immobilize sulfates without compromising the strength development derived from carbonation. This research contributes to the understanding of how accelerated carbonation and NS addition can enhance the performance of HSFA-based materials, providing valuable insights for the development of sustainable construction materials.

Improving the interface compatibility and mechanical performances of the cementitious composites by low-cost alkyl ketene dimer modified fibers

Natural fibers-reinforced cement composites have recently attracted more interest due to the trend in the development of sustainable construction materials. However, the poor fiber–matrix interface compatibility, which is caused by the swelling-shrinking behavior of hydrophilic natural fiber, negatively affects the mechanical properties of the composites thereby hindering their practical application. In order to promote interfacial compatibility, a new fiber surface treatment is needed. A low-cost alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) is adopted in this work, aiming at replacing the relatively expensive silane agents. This study focuses on fiber surface treatment and the resulting effects on the interface compatibility and mechanical performances of the composites. The effect of the fiber modification was characterized by FTIR and water absorption test; The interfacial compatibility of the composites was evaluated by the compatibility index calculation and SEM observation; A series of strength properties of the composites were carried out considering the influence of interface compatibility on mechanical performance. Results show a clear improvement in both interface compatibility and mechanical properties of the composites when AKD-modified fibers are used as reinforcement. The compressive and flexural strength are effectively increased up to 53 MPa and 8 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the approach of the low-cost AKD modification could further be applied to any natural fibers in cementitious composites, allowing cost-effectiveness in practical applications.

Analyzing Influence of Mix Design Constituents on Compressive Strength, Setting Times, and Workability of Geopolymer Mortar and Paste

Geopolymer concrete and mortar have evolved over the years as potential alternatives for reducing the greenhouse gases associated with cement production. This current research was aimed at investigating the optimum dosage and concentration of sodium hydroxide required to leach out silica and alumina oxides in the fly ash for geopolymerization to take place. Blackish grey fly ash from Morupule, Botswana, was synthesized by varying sodium hydroxide (NaOH) of 98% purity between 8 M and 14 M, respectively. The ratio influence of sodium hydroxide to fly ash in dissolving the oxides was carried out at the values of 0.55, 0.62, and 0.75. The results showed that the workability of the geopolymer mortar and paste decreased with the increase in the ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator. The highest workability was achieved at a ratio of 0.75 : 1. The compressive strength, setting time, and workability of geopolymer mortar and paste can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of fly ash to alkaline activator. A ratio of 1.5 : 1 was found to be the most suitable for achieving high compressive strength, while a ratio of 0.75 : 1 was found to be the most suitable for achieving high workability. Furthermore, the workability values were in the range of 105 to 143 mm, while the ranges of initial and final setting times were found to be between 280–350 and 950–1170 minutes, respectively. This study is significant because no previous study has carried out geopolmerization of the Morupule fly ash as a result of its unique characteristics. These findings have important implications for the development of sustainable construction materials. The main finding was that for optimum reaction to take place, and NaOH/fly ash ratio should be kept at 0.55 and molarity of 12 to avoid leaching of other oxides that might weaken the strength.

Effects of agro-industrial by-products as alumina-silicate source on the mechanical and thermal properties of fly ash based-alkali activated binder

The construction industry has a potential to incorporate various agro-industrial waste for development of sustainable construction materials which will eventually results in a cleaner and healthy environment. This research emphasizes on incorporation of agro-industrial wastes such as Rice husk ash (RHA), fly ash (FA), copper slag (CS), bottom ash (BA) and glass powder (GP) to develop ecofriendly alkali-activated blocks. The research studies the effect of blending alumina-silica rich agro-industrial byproduct with fly ash and the influence of resulting oxide ratios on the thermal, mechanical and physical properties of the proposed binder. The experimental study indicates that the combination of CS with FA resulted in the highest strength of 63 MPa among all the combinations. However, the NaOH molar ratio also plays a crucial role in performance of alkali activated block as all the mixes having 12 M NaOH resulted in higher mechanical performance. The findings suggest that the raw materials, curing temperature and NaOH concentration also contribute towards strength development apart from the oxide ratios like Si/Al, Na/Al and Na/Si. Finally, a comparative performance analysis amongst the agro-industrial waste (used in current study) as an ingredient to develop alkali activated binder was provided.

Waste slags as sustainable construction materials: a compressive review on physico mechanical properties

Rapid industrialization and urbanization in emerging nations have resulted in the accumulation of various industrial wastes. As a result, reusing and recycling these wastes into an economical, durable, and environmentally friendly building material may be the most effective means of mitigating their environmental impact. Such wastes are being dumped in greater quantities, which pollute the ecosystem and the land. As a result, its efficient use and management are required, which presents a global issue for its viable recycling and safe disposal. The current review examines the use of various slags, including cupola slag, electric arc furnace slag (EAFS), steel furnace slag (SFS), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) in the development of sustainable construction materials considering the potential of such waste in greener concrete composites towards eco-friendly infrastructure. In order to produce environmentally acceptable construction materials, these waste slags have been used as a partial and full replacement of cement, fine and coarse aggregate with or without supplementary materials ranging from 10 to 60% for cupola slag, 20 to 50% for EAFS, 10 to 50% for GGBFS, and 10 to 30% for SFS are suggested. This review will be an inclusion that helps readers to identify gaps in experimental viability, material characterization, and physico-mechanical behaviour of waste slags, pointing to the potential for application in the production of sustainable building materials.

Utilization of Polymer Composite for Development of Sustainable Construction Material

Polymers have gained an extensive application due to their versatility of properties and benefits. Hence, the polymer blends and composites reinforced with different infusions at different scales, macro to nanofillers, can be fabricated, leading to specific tailormade applications. The main objective of this investigation is to overview the various studies carried out to reuse the waste materials like electroplating sludge, fly ash, etc. For the development of construction materials. This paper summarizes the use of polymers in composite material formulations for the development of building materials such as lightweight concrete, protective coatings, paver blocks, bricks, and structural components. Different tests, namely viscosity, density, flash point, amine value, and epoxy equivalent weight, were performed on polymers to find their suitability as binder materials. Various laboratory tests such as compressive strength, water absorption, tear resistance, flexural strength, and split tensile tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the developed materials. By using polymers with the addition of sustainable filler and waste materials, the replacement of costly raw material can be achieved by more than 50% in the case of paver blocks, up to 60% in bitumen-polymer composite, 80% in case of lightweight concrete and polymer-based panels. This insight gives the framework for the selection of different materials, optimization of combining ratio of materials, and their testing for the development of polymer-based materials.

Towards the development of sustainable concrete incorporating waste tyre rubbers: A long-term study of physical, mechanical & durability properties and environmental impact

The dramatic increase in the demand for vehicle tyres and consequently the rapid rise in associated waste rubber has been a concern for several decades. Rubber disposal has adverse effects on the environment, human health and a detrimental effect on sustainable development across the world. This paper investigates the effectiveness of a sodium hydroxide treatment method for waste rubber in addition to the utilisation of silica fume to improve the interfacial transition zone between the rubber and cement matrix. This has been shown to have important implication for the long-term development of physical and mechanical properties of concrete aged for 2 years. This study emphasises that while satisfactory improvements are attained through the rubber treatment alone, the actual performance of rubberized concrete containing silica fume could only be investigated over the long term owing to the slow pozzolanic reaction and its dependency on the formation of calcium hydroxide. The pre-treatment of rubber and more specifically the utilisation of silica fume improved the durability of concrete over rubber replacement levels from ∼20% to 40%. Long-term thermal conductivity and sound permeability of concrete containing tyre rubber were shown to have important consequences in energy conservation and social sustainability in construction practice. Results reported on the cost efficiency and consequently the CO2 emissions of concrete containing rubber do not only enhance awareness of the development of sustainable construction materials but also lead a cleaner alternative waste management route for tyre rubber.

Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Construction Materials and Form-finding Structures: A Review on Recent Progresses.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest on the sustainability advantage of 3D concrete printing (3DCP), where the original cement-based mixtures used for printing could be replaced or incorporated with environmental-friendly materials. The development in digital modeling and design tools also creates a new realm of form-finding architecture for 3DCP, which is based on topological optimization of volumetric mass and physical performance. This review provides a perspective of using different green cementitious materials, applications of structural optimization, and modularization methods for realizing sustainable construction with additive manufacturing. The fresh and hardened mechanical properties of various sustainable materials for extrusion-based 3D printing are presented, followed by discussions on different topology optimization techniques. The current state of global research and industrial applications in 3DCP, along with the development of sustainable construction materials, is also summarized. Finally, research and practical gaps identified in this review lead to several recommendations on material developments, digital design tool's prospects for 3DCP to achieve the sustainability goal.

Sustainable building materials using textile effluent treatment plant sludge: a review

A huge quantity of textile effluent sludge is generated from 21 076 textile units of India and dumped in large areas, leading to contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater. Hence, effective management of this sludge is important for its reuse and safe disposal. Considering the utilization of this waste in construction activities, the current paper explores the potential of textile sludge produced from textile industry effluent treatment plants. Many researchers have attempted to reuse this sludge for the development of sustainable construction materials and suggested its optimum usage as a partial substitution for fine aggregate, cement and clay with or without additives for the manufacturing of non-structural building components. This paper provides a critical review of the production of non-structural elements – namely, sustainable building blocks, clay bricks, mortar and paver blocks – using textile effluent treatment plant sludge and recommends optimum ranges of 5–30, 5–40, 5–50 and 20–40%, respectively. The prominent gaps are suggested as the outcome of studies such as techno-economic feasibility of the product, thermal and energy building simulation along with the life-cycle assessment and fatigue life assessment of the developed paver blocks.

A New High-Standard Journal Contributing to the Development of Sustainable Construction Materials

Materials for construction have evolved over the years, but they still need improvement in order to be environmentally and technically better [...]

Cross-Organizational Learning Approach in the Sustainable Use of Fly Ash for Geopolymer in the Philippine Construction Industry

The construction industry faces a challenging situation in attaining sustainable development goals. The carbon footprint of the production and use of construction materials such as the use of ordinary Portland cement in concrete products is still on the rise despite of many alternatives and technologies. In this paper, the local cross-organizational learning approach (COLA) and a systematic review of academic and professional literatures were applied in analyzing the use of fly ash as a geopolymer in the Philippine construction industry. Three primary stakeholders were considered: academe, professional organizations, and industry. Documents from each stakeholder were collected, with keywords including sustainability, fly ash, and geopolymer. These documents included published materials, newsletters, department orders, codes, and policies. Text analytics throughout the documents were applied using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model, which uses a hierarchal Bayesian-modelling process that groups set of items into topics to determine the maturity level of the organizational learning. An adoption framework is proposed aligning COLA with the awareness, interest, desire, and action (AIDA) funnel model. Results show that the organizational maturity until optimization of academe is sufficient towards interest and desire, while industry is highly encouraged to increase organizational maturity from managed to optimization towards desire and action. Factors such as organizational intelligence (OI) and organizational stupidity (OS) are to be considered in balancing critical thinking across organizations. Further studies are recommended by considering the use of COLA with ASEAN organizations in the development of sustainable construction materials.