Non-structural Materials Research Articles

Analysis of carbon emission characteristics and establishment of prediction models for residential and office buildings in China

Intensifying environmental issues make carbon reduction crucial, especially in the construction industry. Embodied carbon emissions (ECE) in buildings characteristically involve concentrated, intensive emissions over a short period. Implementing energy-saving and carbon-reducing technologies has raised ECE rates. Therefore, analyzing carbon emission (CE) characteristics during the production and construction phases is necessary. Currently, essential data on ECE is lacking, the calculation methods are complex, and ECE's characteristics and influential factors in residential and office buildings remain unclear. Moreover, there is a lack of prediction models for ECE in the construction phase that apply to current construction methods and CE factors. The research on prediction models for ECE has primarily focused on the production phase but has paid little attention to the contribution of non-structural materials to embodied carbon (EC). In this study, reinforced concrete residential and office buildings in hot summer and cold winter regions (located in the southeast part of mainland China, with a subtropical monsoon climate) were considered typical types, and the CE characteristics of two main phases, the production and construction phases, were analyzed. Based on critical features, such as the number of floors and the basement, prediction models for ECE in residential and office buildings were established at the design stage. The models were validated with mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values below 4%, and coefficient of variation (root mean square error) (CV [RMSE]) values less than 0.02. The prediction models enabled a rapid estimation of ECE, encouraging designers to consider EC in the early design stages.

TRM strengthening as effective prevention against premature failure of masonry walls

Masonry structures are very prone to cracking and premature failure in the presence of shear loading. Therefore, effective prevention of their premature damage is needed. This paper presents laboratory tests of small models made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks, which were externally reinforced using two different strengthening sets consisting of mortar and mesh, and subjected to diagonal compression. The experiments used a commercialised system designed for the strengthening of typical masonry substrates (brick, stone) and a low-cost and lowstrength mesh and mortar set used as part of a system for insulating buildings. The analyses presented are of a comparative nature and describe changes in the behaviour of the models depending on the strengthening set used. The application of full-surface strengthening clearly changed the behaviour of AAC walls from brittle one to the ‘pseudo-ductile’ one observed after the appearance of the first cracks. In all strengthened models, a significant increase in the load capacity (from 3% to 62%) and a post-peak phase were reported. An interesting finding was the high efficiency of nonstructural materials (plastering system), comparable to the effects of the use of commercialised system solutions. This strengthening can be successfully considered as an effective preventive action. Finally, a simplified method is provided to calculate the contribution of the strengthening to the load bearing capacity of the strengthened models. The method defines the effect of the mesh and the mortar independently, based only on the basic material properties of these two components.

Analysis of the effectiveness of using EPS sandwich panel versus lightweight bricks at residential project: Case study at residential houses in Jakarta

Effectiveness in material selection in construction projects has a major impact on the use of costs incurred during the construction period. The quality used must also be in accordance with standards based on building functions and have national standard quality. The implementation time on residential project construction projects that require work to be completed quickly in accordance with good results and in accordance with those stated in the contract must be carefully designed and planned. Data collected from literature and catalogues, and recorded from site will be analysed and discussed Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find out and choose the use of effective non-structural material as a wall for residential projects.

The effect of microwave treatment on the color changes and wettability of sembilang bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus Munro)

Bamboo has the potential to be a substitute for wood, although it is no exception that bamboo has many weaknesses. Bamboo is a plant with fast growth, short recycling times, and the potential to be used as structural and non-structural materials. Sembilang bamboo is a bamboo that has a large diameter and is commonly known as giant bamboo. Poor adhesive dispersion was a problem in previous studies, and the presence of discoloration due to important treatments was known. Heating using a microwave is a step in this research to solve the problems that occur. The research was carried out by measuring bamboo samples of a certain size, then the bamboo was scanned, and the wettability was measured initially and at the end of the test. Bamboo samples were heated in the microwave at a certain temperature of 60–75°C for 0.5–1 minute. The results of the 1 minute and 0.5 minute microwave treatment tests can increase wettability so that the spread becomes longer, with a small K value of 0.391. This is presumably because the contact angle is less than 90°. In addition, the treatment also had a small and moderate effect on the color differences that occurred.

HALL CURRENTS AND ION SLIP EFFECT ON SISKO NANOFLUID FLOW FEATURING CHEMICAL REACTION OVER POROUS MEDIUM-A STATISTICAL APPROACH

This paper focuses on the statistical analyzing of hall currents and the ion slip effect on Sisko nanofluid. The present analysis of the flow deals with chemical reaction, porous medium, and magnetohydrodynamic flow over a stretching sheet. Applications of the present study are found in predicting sheer rates, lubricating oil and greases, and making non-structured materials. Its industrial applications include reduction in oil-pipeline function, surfactant for comprehensive cooling and heating system and flow traces. The non-linear partial differential equations are converted into ordinary differential equations using convective boundary conditions by utilizing similarity transformations. The ordinary differential equation is solved numerically by applying the fifth order Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg scheme via shooting technique. The impact of various non-dimensional flow parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions are analyzed and exemplified graphically. The results compare favorably with previously published works. The statistical analysis indicates that the correlation coefficients of parameters <i>A, k, Nt</i>, and <i>Kc</i> are remarkable to the physical attributes. Results indicate that an increase in hall current and chemical reaction enhances the temperature and reduces the concentration profile.

AAC-block walls with surface application of non-structural plastering materials as newly configured and improved structures subjected to diagonal compression

This research evaluates the use of non-structural materials, in the form of plastering grids and adhesive mortars, to create a newly configured structure with better shear properties than the original one, i.e. AAC blocks walls. Four types of glass fibre grid and two adhesive mortars were used. The results of 35 tested models subjected to diagonal compression show significantly improved performance by avoiding brittle failure, providing a significant increase in strength and ensuring relatively safe working conditions at large deformations. The best improvement in shear properties provided a relatively ‘weak’ grid with small openings and a highly deformable mortar.

Valorization of virgin cork by the design of cork-plaster composites

The aim of this study is to develop a composite insulation material based on plaster and virgin cork from Corsica which has an insufficient quality for cork stoppers. This paper presents the results of design and characterization. In this study, six cork-plaster mixtures with a C/P ratio of 0.025; 0.05; 0.075; 0.10; 0.15; 0.20 were produced. The cork-plaster composites were compared with a reference sample without cork particles in terms of properties. It was observed that the compressive and flexural strength, density, and thermal conductivity decrease with the increase of the cork content. The value of thermal conductivity (0.460 – 0.168 W/(m⋅K)) shows that virgin cork-plaster composites can be used in building applications as non-structural material.

Tensile Strength of Abaca Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Fabricated by Press Method: Effect of Fiber Content and Fiber Orientation

The paper reported the study on the tensile strength of polymer composite reinforced with abaca fiber and polyester matrix. The effect of fiber weight content and fiber orientation on the tensile strength of the abaca composite were investigated in the study. The abaca composite panel was fabricated using press method with 3 levels of the fiber weight content (20%, 30% and 40%) and 3 levels of fiber orientation (00, 450 and 900). The tensile specimen was prepared according to ASTM D3039 standard. The tensile test was conducted using MTS Landmark servo hydraulic testing machine with a tensile speed of 2 mm/min. The result of the experiment showed that both of fiber weight content and fiber orientation gave significant effect on the tensile strength of the abaca composite. The highest tensile strength was 61.9 MPa, produced by the abaca composite panel with fiber weight content 30% and fiber orientation 00. According to the standard, the tensile strength has fulfilled the requirements as a non-structural material.

Influence of Fiber Content on the Flexural Strength and Physical Properties of Abaca Fiber-Cement-Gypsum Board

Cement-gypsum board has been used widely in construction project as a non-structural material. Commercial cement-gypsum board is mostly reinforced with synthetic fiber such as glass fiber. Environment consideration leads to the replacement of synthetic component with natural one in industrial product. In this study, a cement-gypsum board with natural fiber reinforcement—specifically, abaca fiber—was created. To examine the impact of fiber content on the flexural strength and other physical characteristics of cement-gypsum panels, cement-gypsum panels with varying amounts of abaca fiber content (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) were created. The experiment and its materials were created in accordance with Indonesian Standard SNI 01-4449-2006. The experiment's findings demonstrated that the amount of fiber in abaca-cement-gypsum panels had a substantial impact on their flexural strength, density, moisture content, water absorption, and thickness development. The cement-gypsum panel with a 2% fiber content achieved the highest flexural strength of 38.577 MPa. According to the experiment's findings on its flexural strength and physical characteristics, abaca fiber could serve as reinforcement for cement-gypsum board.

On the effect of green nonstructural materials on scour reduction downstream of grid dissipators

Abstract In this study, a nonstructural and eco-friendly solution has been used to reduce scouring downstream of screens. Upstream of the screen are stilling basins protected against scouring, but downstream locations are subjected to flow scouring. One of the challenges that the current research brings with it is the process of dispersing nanomaterials. In this research, to achieve its goals, three beds of channels with sedimentary materials, sedimentary materials plus clay, as well as sedimentary materials with a combination of clay and montmorillonite nanoclay have been used. The experimental results show the positive effect of clay and nanoclay on scour depth reduction downstream of the screens. The best performance occurs with the clay and montmorillonite clay mixture. The positive effect of clay and montmorillonite nanoclay mixture for scour length reduction is observed, and by utilizing this mixture, the length of scouring has decreased 33%. Furthermore, by adding clay and montmorillonite nanoclay mixture, the scour depth is reduced up to 39 and 46%, respectively. Utilizing clay and montmorillonite nanoclay mixture has a positive effect on scouring control. It could be very useful for cases such as rivers where bed protection with concrete is not possible.

Utilization Of Eggshell Powder Waste As An Added Material To Mortar

In the development of increasingly developed technology and the demands of the community's needs for infrastructure facilities, it also affects the development of a construction field. This is also no exception in the manufacture of mortar which is used as a non-structural material in buildings. In making mortar itself, it is also influenced by developing technological developments, one of the types affected is pozzolan mortar. Pozzolan mortar has added materials derived from nature or industrial waste. In Indonesia, waste from eggshells is increasing every year, because eggshells are one of the people's favorite food ingredients. The eggshells have contain calcium carbonate (CaCO3) compound which is an element than cement. The materials of making the mortar itself are water, cement, and sand. This research aims to utilize egg shell waste as an added material in mortar with variations in the percentage of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% eggshell powder. From the results obtained, the addition of eggshell powder at maximum compressive strength lies at a percentage of 15% of 300 MPa.

Development of New Material Models for Thermal Behavior of Cold-Formed G-450 and G-550 Steels in OpenSees Software

In this study, new steel material classes were added to the OpenSees 3.0.0 library to model their behavior within cold-formed profiles under high temperatures. The new material classes that were added are capable of modeling G-450 and G-550 grade galvanized steels under mechanical and thermal loads. Gypsum panel, a nonstructural material within walls, significantly contributed to the lateral resistance of cold-formed structures. For the first time, the relevant material class was added to OpenSees. First, heat transfer analysis was performed to determine the temperature distribution within different parts of the frame structure. Second, the structure was analyzed under gravity loads, followed by thermal loads. Results from the first step were applied to the structure, and a transient thermomechanical analysis was performed. The output of this analysis included the deformation and force of the members of the structure. The behavior of each new material class was compared with the experimental results to determine the accuracy of the developed OpenSees scripts. Moreover, the results related to modeling with this material class were compared with those of the material classes available in OpenSees. The results exhibited high accuracy with the new material class, and the difference in the results obtained with the current material classes in OpenSees was significant.

Unraveling lignin degradation in fibre cement via multidimensional fluorometry

Pulp fibre reinforced cement (fibre cement) has the potential to become a forerunner in mitigating the carbon dioxide (CO2) footprint of non-structural materials for residential and commercial structures. However, one of the significant bottlenecks in fibre cement is its poor chemical stability in the alkaline cement matrix. To date, probing the health of pulp fibre in cement is lengthy and laborious, requiring mechanical and chemical separations. In this study, we have demonstrated that it is possible to understand the chemical interactions at the fibre-cement interfaces by tracking lignin in a solid state without using any additional chemicals. For the first time, multidimensional fluorometry is employed for the rapid assessment of the structural change (degradation) of lignin in fibre cement as an indicator of pulp fibre health; providing an excellent platform for the germination of resilient fibre cement with high content of natural lignocellulosic fibre.

Impact of Zinc Oxide Addition on Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches Foamed Polymer Composites for Automotive Interior Parts

The sustainable use of agricultural waste to generate valuable products while minimizing environmental burdens is increasing rapidly. Multiple sources of fibers have been intensively studied concerning their application in various fields and industries. However, few publications have extensively discussed the property's performance of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) composites. With main properties similar to composites currently listed for industrial applications, OPEFB is worth listing as a potential composite for industrial applications and non-structural material alternatives. OPEFB-reinforced polymer composites are expected to be applied to automotive interior parts. This study aims to determine the effect of adding zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyurethane on OPEFB-reinforced polymer composites for automotive interior parts. This composite was produced using the hand lay-up method with 70% resin, 15% OPEFB fiber, 15% polyurethane as a blowing agent, and four variations of ZnO at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The OPEFB particle sizes are 40, 60, 80, and 100, respectively. The composite was examined to determine mechanical, morphology, chemical, and thermal characteristics. It was observed that the addition of 20% ZnO caused ZnO agglomeration, weakening the interfacial bond between OPEFB particles, polyester, polyurethane, and ZnO filler. Overall, the results showed that adding ZnO and polyurethane to the composite increased tensile, compressive, flexural, and impact strength, as well as thermal stability with more significant values up to 160%, 225%, 100%, 100%, and 4.3%, respectively. This result depicted that the best composition was specimens with 15% ZnO and 149 microns OPEFB fibers particle size. It is considered a promising candidate to be applied in automotive interior components.

Evaluation of Thermal Conductivity of Sustainable Concrete Having Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and Recycled Aggregate (RCA) Using Needle Probe Test

The evaluation of thermal properties is commonly conducted to characterize non-structural materials, such as lightweight concrete, that are used for thermal insulation. Such materials are designed for thermal resistivity applications. Due to the increased demand to adopt sustainable practices in the construction industry, municipalities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) emphasize the use of sustainable materials in construction, such as green concrete. The cement in green concrete is partially replaced with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs); these materials are by-product waste from other industries. The SCMs can contribute to sustainability by reducing the concrete carbon footprint. They can also help in extending concrete durability and service life. However, there is still a lack in the literature regarding the effects of these materials on the thermal properties of concrete. This paper investigates the thermal properties of sustainable concrete mixes incorporating various types of SCMs. The SCMs that are considered in this investigation are fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), and microsilica. Another way to improve the sustainability of the concrete is to partially replace the natural aggregates with recycled aggregates. Thus, a group of the concrete mixes in this investigation were prepared by replacing 40% of natural aggregates with recycled aggregates to investigate the effects of recycled aggregate on the thermal properties of concrete. Further, the thermal properties of three lightweight concrete mixtures commonly used in construction were evaluated. All concrete mixtures were examined for thermal conductivity and resistivity in accordance with ASTM D5334. The results of this investigation showed that SCMs and recycled aggregates have a significant impact on the thermal properties of concrete. The high replacement of ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) resulted in a remarkable increase in thermal conductivity. This investigation provides significant conclusions and recommendations that are of practical importance to the construction industry in the UAE to promote sustainability. This research aims at formulating recommendations for the effective use of SCMs in the construction industry in the UAE based on their effects on the thermal properties of concrete.

Articular Regional Reconstruction (ARR) for Large Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus using Viable Osteochondral Allograft Combined with Autograft: Technique Description and Case Series

Category: Ankle; Sports; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are challenging to treat, and large lesions (>10mm) with concomitant subchondral bony defects are particularly challenging. Standard treatments such as bone stimulation are limited and are often restricted to smaller lesions. Particulate and fragmented chondral allograft techniques face limitations with uncontained lesions. Structural allograft/autograft techniques often require removal of regions of native, uninjured bone and may encounter donor issues. Postoperatively, ensuring reliable osseous and cartilaginous healing responses can be difficult. Articular Regional Reconstruction (ARR) is a novel technique combining viable osteochondral allograft with morselized autograft bone to address large OLT lesions with bony defects, whether contained or uncontained. We describe a consecutive series of patients undergoing ARR here. Methods: Patients indicated for the ARR procedure had preoperative MRI and CT imaging identifying large (>10mm), unstable osteochondral lesions with bony defects; 11 consecutive patients that had undergone ARR were identified. OLT lesions were initially inspected arthroscopically, and then converted to open debridement. Medial malleolar osteotomies were used for access when necessary. A stable bony base and viable cartilage rim was established, removing all damaged cartilage and nonstructural material from the OLT and bony defect. Talar body structure and morphology was restored using iliac crest or tibial morselized autograft bone placed in the bony defect. Viable osteochondral allograft (Cartiform) was shaped and then secured over the autograft using suture anchors placed at the lesion periphery. Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) measures included PROMIS- physical function (PROMIS-PF), PROMIS-pain interference (PROMIS-PI), and single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE). Three patients without PRO data were excluded, leaving eight patients with preoperative and postoperative PRO data for analysis. Results: The ARR patients averaged 40 years old (range 28-60) with a mean follow up of 19 months (range 10-38). The lesion surface areas averaged 1.95 cm2 (range 1.17-2.99 cm2) with a depth of 7.25mm (range 5-9mm). Four were uncontained corner lesions. Postoperative PROMIS-PF improved from 41 to 47 (p = 0.036), and PROMIS- PI improved from 60 to 53 (p = 0.093). Average SANE scores improved from 60 to 69 (p = 0.148). No complications occurred. No revision OLT surgeries were required, though three patients returned to the OR (Two for osteotomy screw removal, one for anterior impingement of opposite corner). During these 'second looks', the implanted cartilage layer was found intact. In a recent survey, all patients indicated they would undergo the procedure again. Conclusion: Articular Regional Reconstruction (ARR) is a reproducible procedure with demonstrated potential for improvement in pain and physical function among patients with symptomatic, large osteochondral lesions of the talus with bony defects, whether 'contained' or 'uncontained'. It has particular utility as an alternative to bulk structural graft salvage procedures among patients who have failed prior procedures, as 5 of the 8 patients had undergone unsuccessful prior surgical intervention for their OLT by outside providers. Further studies on ARR of the talus are necessary to elucidate the prognosis of this procedure, establish indication boundaries, and strengthen long-term outcome data.

CO2 emission and construction cost reduction effect in cases of recycled aggregate utilized for nonstructural building materials in South Korea

The construction industry is a major consumer of natural resources and a major waste generator. The use of recycled aggregate is important for the environmental sustainability of the construction industry because it can not only reduce the need for waste landfills, but can also reduce the depletion of natural aggregates. Although there are many studies on the environmental effects of recycled aggregate, there are few studies on its practical effects as applied to real buildings. Recycled aggregates have not been widely used owing to a lack of user trust. Generally RCA has been commonly used in nonstructural materials (such as pavements or filling materials) owing to its inherent properties. Due to inferior characteristics of RCA, there is a limit to being widely used as a structural material immediately. Therefore, to expand the use of recycled aggregate, it is necessary to study the economic and environmental benefits from using recycled aggregate as a nonstructural material for buildings. In this study, the cost and potential embodied CO 2 (ECO 2 ) emission benefits were analyzed by using recycled aggregates as the nonstructural materials in four types of buildings, including apartments with 31 different characteristics. When applied RCA to the apartments, the cost savings are -$122,057 which is 10% reduction compared to original material. And the ECO 2 emissions cost savings amount to -$2,958 which is 5% reduction compared to original material; these represent the most effective case and reflect a −0.158% change in the total construction cost.

An investigation of thermal conductivity and sound absorption from binderless panels made of oil palm wood as bio-insulation materials

Oil palm wood is one of the solid wastes available in large quantities, which has been used as non-structural material. Many researchers focus on their material strength and binder selection. However, limited studies investigate oil palm wood as insulation materials. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the thermal and sound characteristics of oil palm wood binderless panels as insulation materials. Panels were manufactured from oil palm wood using hot presses with different particle sizes and pressing times. The results indicated that the particle size had a significant effect on the characteristics of the binderless panels but not on pressing times. The coarser particle size enhanced the thermal and sound resistance but decreased density, water resistance, and flexural strength. In addition, the panels with large particles had the least thermal conductivity (0.050 W/mK) and the highest sound absorption coefficient of 0.33. The study also showed that the flexural strength and water absorption of the panels ranged from 4.21 to 8.18 MPa and 84.51%–119.06%, respectively. The findings of this study indicate the feasibility of binderless panels from oil palm wood as insulation materials.

Towards understanding cork concrete behaviour: Impact of considering cork absorption during mixing process

The main objective of this paper to examine the impact of varying the considered level of cork absorption during preparation of cork concrete. For this purpose, experiments were carried out on cork concretes considering three different levels of cork absorption, namely: (i) no water, (ii) water corresponding to 2 h of cork absorption and (iii) cork saturation water. For each level of absorption, three cork percentages (25, 50 and 75%) were studied. Concretes were tested in terms of consistency, density, microstructure and hygro-thermo-mechanical properties. Microstructure’ results highlighted the impact of considering cork absorption on the porosity of concrete, its pore size distribution and the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between cork and matrix. By increasing the considered level of cork absorption, the hygric performance of cork concretes was substantially improved. For instance, by going from zero to a saturation level, an increase of 20% was recorded on Moisture Buffer Value (MBV) of concrete with 75% of cork. The best thermal conductivity was obtained for concretes incorporating water corresponding to 2 h of cork absorption. However, the highest specific heat (Cp), value that insure high thermal inertia, was recorded for concretes containing cork saturation water. Depending on water amount and cork percentage, thermal conductivity of concretes ranged between 140 and 1230 mW/(m.K). Notwithstanding the decrease of compressive strength with increasing cork absorption water, the produced concretes exhibited good performance for the use as non-structural materials.

Characterization of Thermal Bio-Insulation Materials Based on Oil Palm Wood: The Effect of Hybridization and Particle Size.

Oil palm wood is the primary biomass waste produced from plantations, comprising up to 70% of the volume of trunks. It has been used in non-structural materials, such as plywood, lumber, and particleboard. However, one aspect has not been disclosed, namely, its use in thermal insulation materials. In this study, we investigated the thermal conductivity and the mechanical and physical properties of bio-insulation materials based on oil palm wood. The effects of hybridization and particle size on the properties of the panels were also evaluated. Oil palm wood and ramie were applied as reinforcements, and tapioca starch was applied as a bio-binder. Panels were prepared using a hot press at a temperature of 150 °C and constant pressure of 9.8 MPa. Thermal conductivity, bending strength, water absorption, dimensional stability, and thermogravimetric tests were performed to evaluate the properties of the panels. The results show that hybridization and particle size significantly affected the properties of the panels. The density and thermal conductivity of the panels were in the ranges of 0.66–0.79 g/cm3 and 0.067–0.154 W/mK, respectively. The least thermal conductivity, i.e., 0.067 W/mK, was obtained for the hybrid panels with coarse particles at density 0.66 g/cm3. The lowest water absorption (54.75%) and thickness swelling (18.18%) were found in the hybrid panels with fine particles. The observed mechanical properties were a bending strength of 11.49–18.15 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 1864–3093 MPa. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that hybrid panels had better thermal stability than pure panels. Overall, the hybrid panels manufactured with a coarse particle size exhibited better thermal resistance and mechanical properties than did other panels. Our results show that oil palm wood wastes are a promising candidate for thermal insulation materials.