Group 3 - Assessed projectwork1- phase 2

Usage of innovative building materials

1.      Self-healing concrete

Cement is all over the place. In any case it's in charge of around 7 percent of yearly worldwide carbon outflows. The other issue with concrete is breaking. Analysts at Bath University are building up a self-healing concrete. It utilizes a blend containing microscopic organisms inside microcapsules, which develop when water enters a break in the solid. This produces limestone which plugs the split before water and oxygen has an opportunity to corrode the steel reinforcement. It's been utilized since the Roman times, however concrete has never been more used than today, with China utilizing a

greater amount of the stuff over the most recent five years than the United States in the most recent century. Concrete is a standout amongst the most generally utilized materials on the planet, yet sooner or later, regardless of how it is made, it will break and deteriorate. Therefore the use of bacteria will come in handy. 

2.      Harnessing kinetic energy

Pavegen gives an innovation that empowers ground surface to harness the kinetic energy of footsteps. It creates power from pedestrian footfall utilizing an electromagnetic induction process and flywheel energy storage. Another organization, Underground Power, is investigating the capability of kinetic energy in roadways. It's created an innovation called Lybra, a tire-like rubber paving that changes over the dynamic kinetic energy delivered by moving vehicles into electrical energy. The dynamic energy is gathered, changed over into power and passed on to the electrical grid.

3.      3D printing

Advances in 3D printing innovation can possibly open up a wide range of plan and development openings. 3D printed segments don't have a similar plan requirements as present development strategies and can possibly save significant cost. Lower material use and lower work expenses could make a more affordable development technique. There are an assortment of 3D printing strategies utilized at development scale, these incorporate the accompanying principle techniques: extrusion (concrete/cement, wax, foam, and polymers), powder bonding (polymer bond, reactive bond, sintering) and additive welding. 3D printing at a development scale will have a wide application of utilizations inside private, commercial, industrial and public sectors. Potential advantages of these faster construction, lower labor costs, increased complexity and/or accuracy, greater integration of function and less waste produced.

Various diverse methodologies have been shown to date which incorporate nearby and off-site creation of structures and development parts, utilizing modern robots, gantry frameworks and fastened autonomous vehicles. Exhibits of development 3D printing technologies to date have included fabrication of housing, construction components (cladding and structural panels and columns), bridges and civil infrastructures, artificial reefs, follies and sculptures. The present stage of 3D printing is at second generation.

4.      Photovoltaic glazing

Organizations, for example, Polysolar have presented transperant photovoltaic glass as an auxiliary building material (windows, façades and rooftops). This essentially transforms the entire building envelope into a solar panel sparing altogether on energy costs. The glass joins transparent semiconductor based photovoltaic cells, which are otherwise called solar cells. The cells are sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Even though Photovoltaic glass isn't superbly transparent however permits a portion of the accessible light through.

The PV power generated is viewed as green or clean electricity since its source is sustainable and it doesn't cause pollution. Notwithstanding energy cost investment funds, potential advantages from the utilization of photovoltaic glass incorporate reducing the carbon footprint of facilities, contributing to sustainability and consequently, enhancing branding and public relations (PR) efforts. In situations where an excessive amount of heat gets in with light, the diminished transparency can likewise save money on aerating and cooling costs. Varieties have been intended for situations where all the more light is wanted. For instance, Sharp has built up a silted solar glass item that has hollows between solar based cells to empower more noteworthy light entrance. Another organization, Onyx Solar, makes photovoltaic glass with an assortment of alternatives including different colors, gradient and patterns as well as double or triple-glazed products Difference in photovoltaic effectiveness and light entrance among these items empowers various choices for architectural designs.

5.      Strawboard

Traditionally panel boards are made from fiber cement or plasterboard. Now they’re being made from straw. German-founded company Novofibre manufactures a unique ‘oriented structural straw board’ made from wheat straw fibre and a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The panels are lightweight but strong, elastic and malleable. They have both sound and thermal insulation benefits. And because the boards use wheat straw that would normally be burned as agricultural waste, they’re cutting down on CO2 emissions. Strawboard building panels are a sort of structural insulated panel (SIP) intended to replace

2x4 stud and drywall development for both interior and exterior walls, and also provide load and non-bearing ceilings, roofing, doors, flooring, and prefabricated buildings. These environmental friendly, solid panels are made of all natural fibrous raw materials, mainly wheat and rice straw. The durable panels feature thermal and acoustic insulation as well as fire and termite resistance and are available for a variety of applications to speed up the construction processes. While these have been utilized as a part of more than 20 countries for over 50 years. Strawboard boards have a solid core of packed wheat or rice straw. High weight and temperatures powers the straw to discharge a characteristic resin that ties the strands together. The packed boards are then secured with either paper liners or OSB that is clung to the two sides with water based non-poisonous paste. The standard board measures 4 feet by 8 feet by 2-1/4 creeps to 8 inches, weighing from 140 lbs. to 440 lbs. each. Custom board sizes are accessible going from 3 feet to 12 feet long.

6.      Thermal bridging insulation

We’re always after more efficient insulation material to reduce energy consumption. Thermablok Aerogel Insulation, Utilizing technology developed by NASA Thermablok is a highly efficient, aerogel-based insulating material that can increase the overall R-value of a wall by more than 40 percent. Much of the time, thermal bridging is utilized as a part of reference to a building's thermal envelope, which is a layer of the building fenced in area framework that resists heat flow between the interior conditioned environment and the exterior unconditioned environment. Heat will exchange through a building's thermal envelope at various rates relying upon the materials exhibit all through the envelope. Heat exchange will be more prominent at warm scaffold areas than where protection exists on the grounds that there is less thermal protection. In the winter, when outside temperature is commonly lower than inside temperature, warm streams outward, and will stream at more prominent rates through warm scaffolds. At warm scaffold areas, the surface temperature within the building envelope will be lower than the encompassing range. In the mid-year, when the outside temperature is normally higher than the inside temperature, warm streams internal, and at more prominent rates through warm scaffolds. This causes winter warm misfortunes and summer warm picks up for adapted spaces in structures.  A get together, for example, an outside divider or protected roof is for the most part grouped by a U-factor, in W/m2·K, that mirrors the general rate of warmth exchange per unit territory for every one of the materials inside a get together, not only the protection layer. Warmth exchange by means of warm extensions diminishes the general warm protection of a gathering, bringing about an expanded U-factor. Warm extensions can happen at a few areas inside a building envelope; most usually, they happen at intersections between at least two building components.

Common locations include:

·         Floor-to-wall or balcony-to-wall junctions, including slab-on-grade and concrete balconies or outdoor patios that extend the floor slab through the building envelope

·         Roof/Ceiling-to-wall junctions, especially where full ceiling insulation depths may not be achieved

·         Window-to-wall junctions

·         Door-to-wall junctions

·         Wall-to-wall junctions

·         Wood, steel or concrete members, such as studs and joists, incorporated in exterior wall, ceiling, or roof construction

·         Recessed luminaries that penetrate insulated ceilings

·         Windows and doors, especially frames components

·         Areas with gaps in or poorly installed insulation

·         Metal ties in masonry cavity walls

7.      Recyclable crushed glass

Glass recycling is the process of waste glass into usable products. Glass waste should be separated by chemical composition, and then, depending on the end use and local processing capabilities, might also have to be separated into different colors. Many recyclers collect different colors of glass separately since glass retains its color after recycling. Researchers and industries are discovering the many uses of crushed glass. Crushed glass has been found to have a cheaper production cost and freight cost due to its lighter weight compared to natural sand. Finding uses for crushed glass also saves on the costs that are associated with sending a formerly unusable resource to the landfill. As time goes by, researchers are finding more uses for crushed glass and increasing the value that this resource brings to industry. Crushed glass can be used as an abrasive for blasting paint and other materials from hard surfaces. Many large organizations including the U.S. Navy are approving the use of crushed glass as an abrasive. Crushed glass that is recycled from used bottles is nontoxic and contains no free silica, making it safe for blasting projects. Crushed glass provides an abrasive that can be used as a substitute for silica sand.  Scientists have found that crushed glass can be used as a filler in concrete projects. Crushed glass is strong and stable and a very economical use for glass that previously was sent to the landfills. Using glass in place of sand reduces strain on the landfill

capacity and reduces the costs associated with concrete projects. Using colored crushed glass can also increase the aesthetic uses of concrete by offering richer, deeper, natural concrete colors. Crushed glass does not weaken the integrity of concrete and does not pose any other environmental issues. Crushed glass is also used in many places where natural sand can also be used, such as in construction projects. Backfill areas such as trenches and foundations are often filled with crushed glass. Construction companies are beginning to prefer the use of glass in place of

sand because of the ease of transportation and the readily available nature of crushed glass. Termites are a real problem for buildings (and their owners) in some parts of the world. Keeping a home termite-free often involves application of nasty chemical pesticides. Termiglass is a non-toxic physical termite barrier developed by Queensland-based Termicide. Recyclable glass is crushed to a specific shape and density. Termites can’t chew through the glass, it’s too heavy for them to move, and the arrangement of the shards means there isn’t enough space for termites to crawl through.

8.      Modular construction

Not new, but modular construction is increasingly popular. Modular designed buildings are constructed off-site. This limits weather disruptions as well as enabling components to be delivered as and when needed - construction becomes somewhat of a logistics exercise. Up to 70 per cent of a building can be produced as components - we’re talking “just in time” manufacturing and delivery. Modular construction also has sustainability benefits, from fewer vehicle movements to less waste.

9.      Asset mapping

Asset mapping tracks the installation and maintenance of operational equipment such as heating, air conditioning, lighting and security systems. Real-time information from the equipment is collected, stored and accessed as needed. Asset mapping helps facilities build databases of asset performance. This helps with proactive building maintenance, and can reduce building procurement and insurance costs.

10.  Sustainable aerated building blocks

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), also known as autoclaved cellular concrete (ACC), autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC), autoclaved concrete, cellular concrete is a lightweight, precast, foam concrete building material invented in the mid-1920s that simultaneously provides structure, insulation, and fire- and mold-resistance. AAC products include blocks, wall panels, floor and roof panels, cladding (façade) panels and lintels. AAC has been produced for more than 70 years, and it offers several significant advantages over other cement construction materials, one of the most important being its lower environmental impact.

·         Improved thermal efficiency reduces the heating and cooling load in buildings.

·         Porous structure allows for superior fire resistance.

·         Workability allows accurate cutting, which minimizes the generation of solid waste during use.

·         Resource efficiency gives it lower environmental impact in all phases of its life cycle, from the processing of raw materials to the disposal of waste.

·         Light weight saves cost & energy in transportation, labor expenses, and increases chances of survival during seismic activity.[6]

·         Larger size blocks leads to faster masonry work.

·         Reduces the cost of the project.

·         Environmentally friendly

·         Energy savings

·         Fire resistant

·         Great ventilation

·         Non-toxic

·         Lightweight

·         Accuracy

·         Long lasting

·         Quick assembly

11.  Straw Bales

Straw-bale construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly wheat, rice, rye and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both. This construction method is commonly used in natural building or "brown" construction projects. Research has shown that straw-bale construction is a sustainable method for building, from the standpoint of both materials and energy needed for heating and cooling.

Advantages of straw-bale construction over conventional building systems include the renewable nature of straw, cost, easy availability, naturally fire-retardant and high insulation value. Rather than relying on new research and technology, straw bale building hearkens back to the days when homes were built from natural, locally-occurring materials. Straw bales are used to create a home’s walls inside of a frame, replacing other building materials such as concrete, wood, gypsum, plaster, fiberglass, or stone. When properly sealed, straw bales naturally provide very high levels of insulation for a hot or cold climate, and are not only affordable but sustainable as straw is a rapidly renewable resource.

12.  GrassCrete

As its name might indicate, grasscrete is a method of laying concrete flooring, walkways, sidewalks, and driveways in such a manner that there are open patterns allowing grass or other flora to grow. While this provides the benefit of reducing concrete usage overall, there’s also another important perk — improved storm water absorption and drainage. The selection of Grasscrete is one of the easiest ways to achieve LEED points due to the reduction in heat island effect, management of storm water runoff, recycled content used in the application process as well as the concrete and sub-base, the long lifespan and the low maintenance required.

The Grasscrete Molded Pulp Former System is a cast-in-place, monolithic, continuously reinforced, void structured concrete pavement that provides superior structural integrity and performance.

13.  Rammed Earth

It is a technique for constructing foundations, floors, and walls using natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, lime, or grave. In fact, walls that have a similar feel to concrete can actually be created with nothing more than dirt tamped down very tightly in wooden forms. Rammed earth is a technology that has been used by human civilization for thousands of years, and can last a very long time. Modern rammed earth buildings can be made safer by use of rebar or bamboo, and mechanical tampers reduce the amount of labor required to create sturdy walls.

14.  HempCrete

Hemp Crete is just what it sounds like – a concrete like material created from the woody inner fibers of the hemp plant. The hemp fibers are bound with lime to create concrete-like shapes that are strong and light. Hemp Crete blocks are super-lightweight, which can also dramatically reduce the energy used to transport the blocks, and hemp itself is a fast-growing, renewable resource.

15.  Bamboo

Bamboo might seem trendy, but it has actually been a locally-sourced building material in some regions of the world for millennia. What makes bamboo such a promising building material for

modern buildings is its combination of tensile strength, light weight, and fast-growing renewable nature. Used for framing buildings and shelters, bamboo can replace expensive and heavy imported materials and provide an alternative to concrete and rebar construction, especially in difficult-to reach areas, post-disaster rebuilding, and low-income areas with access to natural locally-sourced bamboo.

16.  Recycled Plastic

Instead of mining, extracting, and milling new components, researchers are creating concrete that includes ground up recycled plastics and trash, which not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but reduces weight and provides a new use for landfill-clogging plastic waste.

17.  Wood

Plain old wood still retains many advantages over more industrial building materials like concrete or steel. Not only do trees absorb CO2 as they grow, they require much less energy-intensive methods to process into construction products. Properly managed forests are also renewable and can ensure a biodiverse habitat.

18.   Mycelium

Mycelium is a crazy futuristic building material that’s actually totally natural – it comprises the root structure of fungi and mushrooms. Mycelium can be encouraged to grow around a composite of other natural materials, like ground up straw, in molds or forms, then air-dried to create lightweight and strong bricks or other shapes.

19.   Ferrock

Ferrock is a new material being researched that uses recycled materials including steel dust from the steel industry to create a concrete-like building material that is even stronger than concrete. What’s more, this unique material actually absorbs and traps carbon dioxide as part of its drying and hardening process – making it not only less CO2 intensive than traditional concrete, but actually carbon neutral.

20.   Ash Crete

Ash Crete is a concrete alternative that uses fly ash instead of traditional cement.  By using fly ash, a by-product of burning coal, 97 percent of traditional components in concrete can be replaced with recycled material.

21.   Timber Crete

Timber Crete is an interesting building material made of sawdust and concrete mixed together. Since it is lighter than concrete, it reduces transportation emissions, and the sawdust both reuses a waste product and replaces some of the energy-intensive components of traditional concrete. Timber Crete can be formed into traditional shapes such as blocks, bricks, and pavers.

Arsecularatne B.P.                       162604D

Ekenayake K.M.N.K.                   162405N

Hasantha P.P.G.M.L                    162627B

Jayathilaka R.D.W.W.                 162634T

Madushan R.L.D                          162647K

Shylanth P.                                    162671D