10 Innovative Materials/Technologies in Civil Engineering

Introduction

Civil Engineering has wide variety of scopes. Which consists most types of construction, and research. In construction, mostly used materials all over the world are concrete, steel, reinforcement, timber, bitumen, etc. Innovative material means the materials which can be used in construction economically, eco-friendly and improve the quality that is able to substitute existing fossils-based materials. Composites, polymers, carbon fibres, protective coatings etc. are some innovative materials in the construction. Now days the world is getting polluted by old technique, materials and procedures which should be minimized by improving and utilizing the bio based construction materials. We can better use these innovative materials for the improvements if the existing structures or equipment are to be maintained. Some of the innovative materials used in construction are described here.

1. AAC bricks
2. Air Cleaning Bricks
3. Eco panel
4. Self-healing materials
5. Translucent Concrete
6. Barsha pump
7. Mass timber
8. Trashes for Construction
9. Thermoplastic Cable (Strand Rods)
10. Carbon Fibre

AAC Blocks/Bricks

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) is a lightweight foam concrete which is suitably used for making construction blocks. Due to presence of Air in the concrete mixture, the AAC blocks are light, yet strong due to the process through which they are created. The bricks made up of AAC are most efficient than other ordinary bricks. The AAC bricks are lightweight and durable and can withstand extreme earthquake conditions. The blocks have much resistance to fire. Also the brick provide great insulation against heat and sounds, they are bad conductor of heat and sound. It is easier to use, saves time and money in construction and provides better results as well.

Air Cleaning Bricks

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming a more important concern for commercial real estate as we gain a better understanding of how built environments affects the health of those who live and work in them. There is no shortage of ways to improve IAQ, but most of them require active energy use to filter the air. That approach emits more carbon and other pollutants into the air over the long terms.

Carmen Trudell, assistant professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s school of architecture and founder of both Landscape and Architecture, has invented a passive system that makes use of the bricks on the outside of the building to filter out the heavier particles in the air as enters the space. The concrete bricks funnel air into an internal cyclone filtration section that separates heavy elements and drops them down into a hopper at the base of the wall. Clean air is then pulled into the building, either mechanically or passively, and maintenance can simply remove and empty the hopper on a periodic basis.

In tests, the system removed about a third of the particulate matter and 100 percent of the coarse particles. Better still, Trudell’s system is inexpensive relative to alternative options, and she envisions using them in developing countries.

Eco Panel

Echo panel is a decorative, acoustically-absorbent panel with a felt-like finish that is made from 100% PET plastic containing at least 60% post-consumer content. It is low-VOC material, meeting requirements for LEED and other green building certifications.

Self-healing materials

It is important for innovative construction materials. Newly invented self-healing cement is currently being developed which has the ability to repair its cracks. Even a small crack in a concrete structure can develop into a much bigger, more expensive problem. The scientists have found a novel way of using living spores to help concrete mend itself when cracks occur. The solution involves small, water-permeable capsules that can be mixed into wet concrete. Once the concrete sets and dries, the spores exist in suspended animation – just like packets of dry yeast. When a crack opens in the concrete and fills with water, though, they begin to grow and produce calcite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate found in marble and limestone. The calcite fills the cracks in the concrete and hardens, preventing the crack from getting any wider.

The cement is manufactured mixed with microcapsules that release a glue-like epoxy resin that will automatically repair any cracks that were formed in the sidewalk or roadway. This material can save energy by developing buildings that can control their own temperature, and save money on repairs.

Self-healing concrete could help buildings, tunnels, bridges, and other structures to last longer without being significantly higher than for regular concrete, and if they don’t come down, this may only be an option for projects that have to last a long time.

Translucent Concrete

The concrete structure is known more for its stability than its great lighting. That was until translucent concrete started to make its way onto the market. This is the best innovation in construction material for decorating purposes. From research and testing transparent concrete, it is clear that the optical fibres make up only 4 percentage of the mixture. So it shows that concrete blocks made from this material still have the ability to support load-bearing walls.

Barsha pump

The Barsha Pump is the first type of hydro powered Water pumps which is developed by aQysta. It is a water wheel propelled pump that utilizes the energy from the flow of rivers and canals to pump water without requiring any fuel or electricity to be operated. Depending upon the soil, crop, climatic conditions, and irrigation technique, one Barsha Pump can irrigate up to 2 hectares of land. Although optional, it is recommended to use the Barsha Pump in integration with the storage system and efficient water distribution techniques such as sprinkler system, drip system, etc. as it helps irrigate the larger area with one Barsha Pump.

Mass timber

Wood is generally weaker than other materials like concrete and steel, and also vulnerable to fire. But Mass timber is more advanced wood building technology in which solid wood is panelised and laminated for increased strength and other properties.

The mass timber category includes several types of laminated timber, most notably cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber. Glue-laminated timber is composed of several pieces of lumber that are glued together and is useful for creating strong beams. Cross-laminated timber is made up of pieces of lumber stacked in alternating directions and makes large panels that can support a lot of weight. Both types of timber are surprisingly fire resistant.

Trashes for Construction

Yes, Trash. Architects and buildings on the cutting edge of the environment movement are using recycled material like scrap metal, cardboard, and even plastic bottles to create new buildings with smaller carbon footprints.

Recycled cardboard, for example, is being used to create high-quality cellulose insulation that outperforms insulation made with traditional process. Ultra Cell Insulation makes use of the wet process, as opposed to older dry processes that result in contamination and dusty products.

Plastic soda and water bottles have always been recycled, but generally, they can only be used to create new bottles a few times before they need to be disposed of. In the last few decades, plastic bottles have increasingly found new, longer life in the form of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) carpets. The PET in bottles is ideal for making soft, fibrous carpets, and when it reaches the end of its life as a carpet it can be used again in car parts, stuffing, and insulation.

On New York City’s Governors Island, a competition was held recently to see how design can be used to tackle environmental problems. The result was a fascinating mix of art and sustainable design. The five-member Team Aesop laid out five tons of clay to dry, resulting in large, organic cracks. These were then filled with melted-down aluminium cans from a local recycling centre to create pavilion panels that are strong, lightweight, and naturally attractive.

Thermoplastic Cable (Strand Rods)

An innovative invention in construction industries that changes the future of construction, is thermoplastic cables. The cable was found by Komatsu Seiren Fabric Laboratory in Japan. This innovation is also named the Cabkoma Strand Rod, which reaches 160 meters in length and weighs only 12kg and is easily transportable. The strand rod is carbon fibre composite which is covered in both synthetic and inorganic fibres and finished with a thermoplastic resin.

When it compares to metal bars, these thermoplastic cables are much lighter. Some of the advantages include not only aesthetically pleasing, but also the lightest seismic reinforcement and high tensile strength in the world.

Carbon Fibre

Carbon fibre is extremely strong and light-weighted. The Carbon fibre is five times as strong as steel, two times as stiff, yet weighs about two-third less. These fibres are made up of carbon strands that are thinner than human hair. The carbon strands can be woven together, like cloth, and then that can be moulded to any shape you might want. In addition, carbon fibres are strong as well as flexible, so it’s the perfect material for construction projects.

References:

• 6 New materials that are changing commercial Construction by Alex Rechardson
• About AAC Itta, AAC Itta Udhyog Pvt. Ltd.
• Kireiusa.com Echo Panel Kirei USA
• https://www.aqysta.com/ aQysta Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
• https://www.knic.co.id/ 6 Innovative Construction Materials Can Revolutionize Industry in Indonesia | Kawawang New Industry City
• https://www.archdaily.com/ Kengo Kuma Uses Carbon Fibre Strands to Protect Building from Earthquakes
• https://civiconcepts.com/ 13 Innovative Construction Materials | Innovative Building Materials | Latest Innovations In Civil Engineering Materials | New Construction Materials
• https://aquicore.com/ 6 New Materials That Are Changing Commercial Construction
• Alex Richardson is a staff writer at Aquicore. He writes about green policy, energy efficiency, and innovation that affects commercial real estate. Alex.Richardson@aquicore.com.

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