Natural Construction Materials Research Articles

Compaction and strength characteristics of lead contaminated lateritic soil treated with eco-friendly biopolymer for use as road foundation material

Reuse of unwanted soil material due to contamination is one of the available alternative to mitigate the depletion of natural construction material like lateritic soil. Lateritic soil can become contaminated as a result of mining activities. However, assessment of such soil for adequate compaction and strength development is a critical requirement for establishing foundation for road pavement failure of which can result in rapid deterioration of structural integrity of pavement. The research paper investigated the efficacy of Gum Arabic biopolymer (GAB) as eco-friendly additive, in enhancing strength development of lead-contaminated lateritic soil (LCLS) for use as foundation material for road pavement. Varying contents of GAB up to 25% of the dry weight of soil in 5% succession was used in treating LCLS. Compaction characteristics, Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and Optimal Moisture Content (OMC), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) with microstructural analysis of the treated soil were assessed using three distinct compactive efforts: British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS), and British Standard Heavy (BSH). With increase in GAB content, there is a corresponding rise in MDD, while OMC decreased across all three compaction efforts. Optimal CBR values were obtained at 10% GAB content across the three compactive efforts. The Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis revealed modifications in the surface morphology occurring at the peripheries of clay particles. The R-squared (R2) values of the regression models derived from statistical analysis of all dependent variables revealed that GAB, MDD, OMC and CE (compactive effort) collectively exert considerable significant effect over CBR values. However, the ultimate strength values fall short of the recommended thresholds for sub-base stabilization. This suggests that a GAB content of 10% enhances the characteristics of contaminated lateritic soil. However, it should not be employed as a sole stabilizer; instead, it could be considered as a potential admixture in cement stabilization.

The Relationship between the Parameters That Characterize a Built Living Space and the Health Status of Its Inhabitants

Housing is an essential component of the living environment, and it has a substantial effect on physical and mental well-being. Multiple housing factors, including inadequate ventilation, overcrowding, construction materials, and exposure to allergens and pollutants, have been linked to a variety of diseases, such as respiratory ailments and dermatologic, rheumatologic, and cardiovascular disorders. The present narrative review shows the current state of knowledge in the field by centralizing and evaluating scientific publications with a focus on this linkage, detailing the implications for health status and the benefits of using natural materials in construction, implementing green building concepts, and applying technological transfer, where various decision factors can contribute to improving quality of life. Therefore, it is achievable to enhance the indoor air quality (IAQ) by promoting ventilation and air filtration, decreasing mold and moisture, and employing low-emitting materials in building construction and development. Overall, promoting healthy housing environments through an enhanced IAQ and using sustainable building practices can have a substantial positive effect on public health. To reduce the risk of housing-related diseases, future research should concentrate on identifying the most effective interventions to improve the living environment–health condition axis.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ УРБАНИСТИЧЕСКОГО ПРОСТРАНСТВА ПУТЕМ ДИЗАЙН-КОДА ЦВЕТА

The article is devoted to the methodology of modeling in the design of the urban environment based on the identification of the uniqueness and identity of the territory. Rules and changes in the design code of the city, unnoticeable at first glance, contribute to the creation of a comfortable, harmonious urban environment. This article contains information about artistic and professional skills that form the idea of color harmony, the influence of color on the psychophysiological state of a person as one of the key tools for creating a balanced environment, as well as harmony, territoriality and environmental friendliness. For the administrative center of the Belgorod region – Belgorod, modeling the issue of the design code of urban space should be based on three basic principles: harmony, territoriality and environmental friendliness. The correct design of the design code includes several directions: color solutions of facades (the main color scheme of buildings is brown-beige. The color was not chosen by chance because it has a symbolic meaning in this context), the decoration of the first floors, the placement of signage, colors-lighting of buildings, festive decoration of buildings, as well as the formation of a unique architectural and landscape environment. The opportunity to use landscaping and features of the natural landscape, as well as local natural materials for construction will emphasize the naturalness of the coloristic solution returns material colors to the palette of the designer and architect. The formation of the design code of the urban environment through the semiotization of color provides for the formulation of research tasks, which consist in the analysis of modern urban planning theory and practice in order to improve the urban environment at the regional level

Exploring bundle bamboo split technique in bending dendrocalamus asper for landscape structure

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing natural construction materials and is locally available in most developing countries, including South America, Africa, and Asia. Bamboo is a “green gold” plant in the tropical forest. It is a fast-growing monocotyledon species belonging to the Gramineae family (Bambusoideae) and requires a short time for re-production. Bamboo’s physical strength provides builders from ancient times until today an opportunity to use bamboo as a natural and sustainable construction material for building houses and structures. Due to its capability to bend, bamboo is the most preferred material in vernacular construction and lately in Southeast Asia countries which borne new trend in building design. The built-environment professionals, namely landscape architects, architects, and engineers in Malaysia, still lack knowledge of bamboo, especially on bending capabilities, as one of the sustainable construction materials. Less concern was given to researching the capabilities of bamboo’s ability to bend, even though its strength is more than steel and provides various design opportunities compared to other sustainable materials. Different types of bamboo present different strength capacities. Therefore, the aims of this research is to compare and determine their strength capacity, bending criteria and species suitability for design and construction in Malaysia. This paper collects published literature on experimental studies on the different methods of Hot and Cold Bending Methods which allow bamboo to bend to suit designer needs and concentrate on Malaysian Dendrocalamus asper (Buluh Betung), which considered as tough and durable species, as the primary construction material for landscape structures. Bundle Bamboo Split (BBS), identified as one of the bending techniques adopted for an experimental project, using BBS of 0.8m radius, produces a prototype for a landscape structure. The findings indicate observation of works by a team of craftsmen trained by an expert in bamboo construction who used to produce bamboo structures from Bali, Indonesia, highlighted tools and procedures in bamboo construction. In short, this paper will also enhance the use of bamboo as an accessible, durable, creative and sustainable construction material that represents the local identity of Tropical Malaysia Landscape Architecture.

Geosynthetic Solutions for Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Development

Geosynthetic engineering has made significant advances during the past decade in the areas of manufacturing and practical applications. As a result, geosynthetics have become essential materials that facilitate construction, better improve short- and long-term performance, and reduce long-term maintenance costs in routine civil engineering projects. Geosynthetics are also being recognized as fundamental to sustainable infrastructure development as they reduce the carbon footprint generated by infrastructure development by minimizing the use of natural construction materials. Creative use of geosynthetics in geo-engineering practices is expected to continue to expand as innovative materials and products are becoming available. In this paper, we begin by discussing issues related to climate change. The sustainable benefits of geosynthetics are then presented by demonstrating the potential of geosynthetics to significantly reduce carbon footprints compared to traditional solutions. Finally, recent geosynthetic technologies have been introduced for use in transportation infrastructure. The pathway forward of the geosynthetic technology is also discussed from the view of sustainable infrastructure development.

Grading bamboo through four-point bending tests. A report on six species of Italian bamboo

The adoption of natural construction materials can help mitigate the environmental impact of the construction industry by reducing the amount of energy required and emissions. Among the natural materials, bamboo is a remarkable option, combining high mechanical resistance with a low specific weight and a very high growth speed; however, its application is limited by the absence of a suitable grading method. This paper aims at filling this lack by providing a strength-based grading methodology relying on a four-point bending test. Experimental results were processed considering bamboo both as a homogeneous material and as a non-homogeneous material and using the ANOVA test. Results show that statistical groups can be defined which are not based on the bamboo species, but on the values of the mechanical properties, hence supporting the appropriateness of strength classes. The bending tests used in this paper could be a crucial test for bamboo grading: it is easier to perform than a tensile test and it gives complete information on the change of material properties along the culm wall thickness. The study focuses on six different species of bamboo grown in Italy, for which little data is present in the literature.

Valorization of the wheat crop stubble ash in eco-efficient concrete

Nearly 14% of the global wheat production is contributed by India. However, crop production supports the welfare of millions of people; crop residue management has remained a huge challenge. As of today, the primary option of wheat crop stubble removal is either the on-site incineration or feedstock and partial inclusion in product manufacturing. These options do not exploit the potential of the waste material in a large quantity. On the other hand, natural construction materials have reached the edge of complete loss in many parts of the country. It is desirable to valorise the agricultural wastes for construction applications. In the present paper, efforts are made to utilize the wheat stubble ash in concrete as a partial replacement of the conventional concrete making materials to check the feasibility to develop a sustainable construction material. The material flow analysis for wheat stubble has been presented. The experimental investigations on the concrete specimens prepared with the wheat straw stubble ash (WSA), showed acceptable results. The potential of WSA in preliminary construction applications as an eco-efficient material has been established. The study showed that the correlation of agricultural waste and concrete can achieve the sustainable development goals (SDG) for the developing countries.

Effects of Dosage and Type of GGBS on the Mechanical Properties of a Hybrid Red-Mud Geopolymer

Bayer red mud (RM) is made from aluminum ore using the Bayer process and is considered an industrial waste. The storage of unused RM can cause environmental and geological problems. Although several studies have focused on RM geopolymers, the amount of RM consumed by these synthetic geopolymers is small (usually <50%). Therefore, in this study, a hybrid geopolymer material with more than 90% RM content was developed and made it possible to apply in engineering construction. The consumption of a considerable amount of RM would reduce the massive accumulation of RM and address the shortage of natural construction materials. Experiments were conducted with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) as the activator. Two different active GGBSs were selected to stabilize the RM by geopolymerization. The effects of dosage and type of GGBS on the mechanical properties of RM were investigated by conducting unconfined compression tests and disintegration and compression experiments. The experimental results indicated that the type and dosage of GGBS had a significant effect on the mechanical behavior of RM. Based on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) values and the results of the disintegration and compression experiments, the optimal RM-GGBS mixed geopolymer was determined by orthogonal analysis. Microscopic analysis showed that under optimal conditions, the amorphous phase participated in the geopolymerization process, forming an amorphous geopolymer that improved the mechanical properties of RM.

Experimental Investigation of Self-Compacting Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate

Due to the depletion of natural aggregates and raw materials for contemporary construction, the construction and demolition waste existing in old concrete structures is an imperative problem. Cutting down on exploiting natural aggregates and reusing construction and demolition waste in the concrete industry are solutions to this problem. This paper investigated the replacement of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) with recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) with different ratios (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) in producing self-compacting concrete (SCC). Different components of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), such as nano-silica (NS), fly ash (FA), and metakaolin (MK), as well as PVA fibers, were incorporated into the SCC mixtures. The fresh properties (slump flow, V-funnel, and L-box test) and hardened properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength), as well as the flexural behavior of SCC beams (load-carrying capacity, crack pattern, mid-span deflection, and flexural stiffness), were studied for all SCC mixes. The results of fresh and hardened concrete confirmed that it is possible to produce SCC with a 100% replacement of RCA with minimal effects on the concrete properties. The mixture of SCC with 100% RCA replacement, 20% MK, and 22% FA was the optimum mixture with acceptable fresh properties that complied with the EFNARC specifications. For 100% RCA replacement, the compressive strength was reduced by 8.20%, and the ultimate load and flexural stiffness increased by 3.20 and 16.25%, respectively, compared with the control mixture.

Research Progress on the Improvement of Flame Retardancy, Hydrophobicity, and Antibacterial Properties of Wood Surfaces

Wood-based materials are multifunctional green and environmentally friendly natural construction materials, and are widely used in decorative building materials. For this reason, a lot of research has been carried out to develop new and innovative wood surface improvements and make wood more appealing through features such as fire-retardancy, hydrophobicity, and antibacterial properties. To improve the performance of wood, more and more attention is being paid to the functioning of the surface. Understanding and mastering technology to improve the surface functionality of wood opens up new possibilities for developing multifunctional and high-performance materials. Examples of these techniques are ion crosslinking modification and coating modification. Researchers have been trying to make wooden surfaces more practical for the past century. This study has gradually gained popularity in the field of wood material science over the last 10 years. This paper provides an experimental reference for research on wood surface functionalization and summarizes the most current advancements in hydrophobic, antibacterial, and flame-retardant research on wood surfaces.

Photodegradation of Bamboo: A Study on Changes in Mechanical Performances.

One of the main concerns in using natural materials in construction, such as bamboo, regards their durability. Ultra violet (UV)irradiation is claimed as a damaging agent; therefore, it is important to study its effect. Several studies have shown that bamboo components such as lignin are subjected to photochemical degradation, but it is not well understood how this affects the mechanical properties of bamboo. The aim of this paper is to explore the correlation between photodegradation and bamboo mechanical performance. Bamboo samples were exposed to accelerated UV ageing for different times (from 6 to 360 h) and then subjected to a four-point bending test. Since one of the ways to stabilize bamboo is to thermally treat it, the tests were conducted on natural untreated bamboo and treated bamboo with a traditional flame treatment. Modifications of the chemical features of the material were analyzed with Fourier Trasform Infra Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, while modifications of the morphological features were analyzed byEnvironmental Scanning Electron Microscopy ESEM and optical microscopy observations. The results show that the bending behavior of bamboo is not compromised by UV exposure up to 360 h. In fact, although a progressive degradation of lignin is reported and cracks in the fiber walls are highlighted from micrographs, no effects were found on the fiber length.

ბოლო ათწლეულის კერძო ვილები ამერიკაში: ნანატრი ალტერნატივა?

Architectural projects of countryside and suburban private houses in the United States, mainly in its central regions today create a long-awaited alternative to the US commercial architecture, which is in a state of crisis due to corporate pressure on it. The projects published in 7 leading American specialized journals during 2011-2020 years were reviewed, many of which, according to the criteria chosen by the authors of the article, became notable for their growingly stimulating trends. The authors of the article did not intend to make a complete classification of the collected materials, although they did offer some typological signs for grouping the studied villas. Almost every private house of the last decade is connected to the forest or mountain, waterfront or other natural environment – the trend that has overcome the early-modernist problem of alienation from the surroundings. At the same time, private villas of the studied decade even act complementary to their environment by staying connected to it yet acting autonomously. Both natural and high-tech construction methods and materials, laconic and understated strategies typical for the current stage are frequently used, as well as we see now examples of satisfying the wishes of unpredictable customers and successful attempts to create a sustainable home with solutions appropriate to various natural climatic conditions. With all of this, the trends of the long-awaited alternative to the commercial architecture of cities seen in American private villas are becoming clearly evident.

Study on strength formation and frost resistance of concrete modified by molybdenum tailings

Solid waste tailing materials from molybdenum mining in China occupy extensive land areas and threaten the health of nearby residents. To address the risk and the increasing shortage of natural construction materials, using those tailings as a construction material is a potential option for the construction industry. Modified concrete mixed with other tailings materials has been widely studied. The application of molybdenum tailings modified concrete to cold regions needs to fully consider its durability. Through the concrete cube compressive strength test and rapid freeze-thaw cycle test after different standard curing time, the strength formation process and frost resistance of molybdenum tailings modified concrete are explored. On this basis, the optimal content of Mo tailing material was determined. Results demonstrated that the compressive strength and frost resistance of Mo-tailing-modified concretes increased first and then decreased with the increase in Mo tailing content. The optimal modification effect was achieved when the Mo tailing content reached 20%. Under that circumstance, the porosity of Mo-tailing-modified concrete was at a minimum before and after the freeze–thaw cycles, thus increasing mechanical and antifrost properties significantly.

Building stone resources of Dnipropetrovsk region

The article deals with the analysis of building stone resources of Dnipropetrovsk region that are used and can be used in order to provide construction needs. Dnipropetrovsk region is one of the most economically developed Ukrainian regions due to mineral and raw material resources being located on its territory. A part of regional mineral raw extraction comes up to almost 50% of mineral deposit balance reserves and the provision exceeds three times the national rate. Crystalline Pre-Cambrian rocks of East European platform fundament as gneiss, granites, quartzites, migmatites, granodiorites, amphibolites and sedimentary apron rocks – malmrocks – are natural construction material in the region. 42 building stone deposits are located on the territory of the region among them 19 deposits are developed also refer to big and middle and 24 are not developed. The biggest amount of developed deposits is located in the Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske and Nikopol districts. Building stone extraction is equal to approximately 14% from national quantity. Deposit exploitation is performed by commercial structures and state corporation enterprises. The conclusions are made about the ways of expanding capacities of building stone extraction due to complex iron ore deposit development and the opportunity of building stone reserve increase in the region.

MODELLING OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF A WOODEN WALL WITH A REED THERMAL-INSULATING MAT

-t. The problem of using natural building materials in low-rise construction lies in ensuring their durability during operation in conditions of atmospheric fluctuations, as well as in ensuring their thermal insulation properties. The purpose of this study is to find the thermal insulation properties of materials, namely thermally modified common hornbeam wood (the outer surface of the building), common pine wood (the inner surface of the building) and a thermal insulation layer of reeds, which allow justifying the effectiveness of their use in construction. The study uses a comprehensive research method, which included figuring out the thermal insulation properties of materials and justifying their feasibility in construction. The thermal insulation properties of wood and reed materials were calculated based on thermophysical dependences. The coefficient of thermal conductivity for wood reaches 0.0082 W/(m∙K), and for reed – 0.0022 W/(m∙K). Therewith, the thermal conductivity is no more than 0.19·10-6 m2 /s, the heat capacity of wood is within 70÷90 kJ/(kg·K), and the heat capacity of a reed product is 337.2 kJ/(kg·K) respectively, which refers them to thermal-insulating materials. The practical value of this study lies in the substantiation of the method of establishing thermal insulation characteristics of building materials by finding their physical and thermophysical properties. The obtained results also expand the scope of application of products and building structures made of wood and reed

Hempcrete - modern solutions for green buildings

Abstract It is widely established that the building industry has a negative impact on the environment and a significant influence on the phenomena that contribute to climate change. Traditional construction materials, such as cement, contribute considerably to environmental pollution. Given the enormous quantity of energy and materials used by the construction sector, this industry must adopt more sustainable practices. Nowadays, an increasing number of natural building materials are used in the structural component or the insulation of buildings. As a result, natural construction materials may be a superior alternative to accomplish this goal. This article discusses the features and applications of hempcrete in the building industry. Hempcrete is a sustainable material composed of industrial hemp, lime as a binder, and water. Due to hemp’s porous structure, it has deformation capacity, sound-absorbing qualities, better hygrothermal properties than conventional concrete, and, depending on the proportions of hemp, lime, and water, fire resistant capabilities due to the presence of lime.

The Fire Resistance and Heat Conductivity of Natural Construction Material Based on Straw and Numerical Simulation of Building Energy Demand

The motivation for research to help address climate change is a continuous process of searching for eco-friendly materials in the building industry, which will allow minimizing the negative impact of this sector on the environment. The main objective of the paper is to assess the properties of a natural resource such as straw as an eco-friendly material in various variants for use in low-energy demand construction. The research results will fill the knowledge gap in the field of numerical analyses of the energy demand of straw material buildings based on the results of the conducted laboratory tests. A test of a heat transfer coefficient was conducted with different orientation of straw stalks. Then, samples were subject to a fire resistance test to determine material behavior at 1000 °C. During the fire resistance test, the clay-based plaster was ‘burnt out’, which hardened its structure, effectively preventing flames from reaching the insulation layers in the form of straw stalks. As a result of shrinkage (no plaster mesh), the plaster cracked and turned brick-red in color. The insulation layer of straw under the plaster was charred to a depth of 3.0 mm due to the high temperature. However, when the torch was turned off, no fire spread was observed in any layer of the sample. The 3D models of the buildings were created for different eco-friendly materials applied to make external walls. The results of numerical simulation allowed determining the amount of final energy needed to heat the designed building at the level of 26.38 (kWh/m2·year). Conclusions of the above-mentioned tests indicate very good thermal insulating properties determined using the lambda coefficient of 0.069 (W/m·K) and the possible application of straw bales as an alternative for conventional construction. Research has proven that it is possible to construct a building with low energy requirements using natural, easily available waste and completely biodegradable material.

Mud jaalis of Surguja: A tribal narrative from Chhattisgarh

Modern construction industry demands for adaptation of sustainable construction materials and practices to control its adverse effect on the environment. One of the answers to such issue is moving back to indigenous techniques and natural construction materials. The vernacular architecture teaches different methods of construction which can be adapted in modern contemporary practice as well. The tribal belt of Chhattisgarh in India still exercises different vernacular techniques in construction of their houses. They are largely dependent on availability of local materials such as mud, husk, stone, lime, bamboo, and timber for any type of construction. The paper discusses the material and manufacturing of one of the key elements of the tribal architecture of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh called “Jaali” a perforated screen. The study investigates the usage and construction technique of mud based jaali used in openings of rural houses. The study explores orientation and architectural details of the jaali to comprehend the same in contemporary practice. Further the temperature of indoor and outdoor is recorded manually to understand the actual difference and benefits of jaali usage.

On the application of sustainable building materials in geodesy and civil engineering

The preparation stage is critical to the success of any construction project. This also applies to projects planned to be implemented in Natura 2000 areas, which cover approx. 18% of the total land area of the EU. The permit for the implementation of a project in an area included in the European ecological network should be granted after a thorough analysis of its impact on a Natura 2000 area. Such analysis should concern construction and material solutions, as well as executive and as-built solutions for objects falling within the scope of the project and take into account the concept of sustainable development. The research showed that the precautionary principle should be supplemented with the concept of sustainable development and with the assessment of material solutions in planned buildings. The article presents the results of research on the need to take into account material issues in the environmental conditions of building structures. A survey was conducted with the participation of 47 experts, and the result of the research is the development of an innovative checklist module for the qualification of a project for habitat assessment, taking into account questions about sustainable building materials. The conducted research has shown which aspects related to the use of building materials are the most important. These are material solutions that provide for the use of natural raw materials and construction materials (unprocessed), the use of materials and raw materials from local producers in order to reduce transport and conducting an energy assessment of the materials used.

Environmental sustainability of fly ash and recycled crushed glass blends: an alternative to natural clay for masonry bricks production

Waste utilization as an alternative for masonry bricks has proven to compensate for the dwindling natural construction materials particularly clay. Currently, South African municipalities are struggling to update their effective waste management techniques. Improper waste management is one of the major constraints affecting the natural environment due to the associated environmental waste pollution. This constraint fostered the motivation to the present study, which reported on the findings obtained from the masonry bricks produced from blends of recycled crushed glass (RCG) and fly ash (α-FA) with the inclusion of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at varying percentages. The masonry bricks were produced with 5%, 10%, and 15% inclusion of OPC to the combined weight of α-FA and RCG. The produced bricks rendered significant compression strength resistance compared to the fired clay bricks that are 3.8% higher on average. However, the compressive strength of all the produced bricks in this study satisfied the South African National Standard SANS 227 Code requirements (i.e., 7 MPa) for individual load-bearing masonry brick. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed that the identified void spaces within the microstructure of the brick specimens with 5% OPC were the major cause of the low strength resulting from the incomplete pozzolanic reaction. Also, the effects of sulphate salt were significantly resisted on the surface of all the tested bricks incorporating α-FA and RCG, due to the presents of aluminosilicates compounds that triggered pozzolanic reactions within the brick’s matrix. The stiffness of the investigated bricks portrayed brittle characteristics due to the developed strength after production. This revealed the existence of a great proportionality between the dynamic modulus and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) revealed a coefficient of determination (R2) equivalent to 90% because of the percentages of RCG particles.