A Study on Transparent Concrete: a Novel Architectural Material to Explore Construction Sector Bhavin K

ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013 A Study on Transparent Concrete: A Novel Architectural Material to Explore Construction Sector Bhavin K. Kashiyani, Varsha Raina, Jayeshkumar Pitroda, Dr. Bhavnaben K. Shah can be seen as a recent answer to the architects call for Abstract: Transparent concrete is a concrete based more Transparent Architecture. building material with light-Tran missive properties due to Table 1 Properties of Transparent Concrete Blocks By embedded light optical elements usually Optical fibres. Light is Litracon Company conducted through the stone from one end to the other. Litracon- Light Therefore the fibres have to go through the whole object. Product Transmitting Concrete Transparent concrete is also known as the translucent concrete and light transmitting concrete because of its Form Prefabricated blocks properties. It is used in fine architecture as a facade material Ingredients 96% concrete, 4% optical fibre and for cladding of interior walls. In this paper, to integrate Density 2100-2400 Kg/m2 the merits of concrete and optical fiber, for developing Block size 600mm x 300mm transparent concrete by arranging the high numerical Thickness 25-500mm aperture Plastic Optical Fibres (POF) or big diameter glass Colour White, Grey or Black optical fiber into concrete. The main purpose is to use sunlight Fibre distribution Organic as a light source to reduce the power consumption of illumination and to use the optical fiber to sense the stress of Finished Polished 2 structures and also use this concrete as an architectural Compressive strength 50 N/mm purpose for good aesthetical view of the building. Bending Tensile strength 7 N/mm2 Source: www.litracon.hu/productlist.php Keywords: Transparent Concrete, Optical Fibre, Architectural, Concrete. II. MATERIAL USED FOR TRANSPARENT

CONCRETE I. INTRODUCTION Just a few decades ago concrete was often There are two basic materials used for making misunderstood, disliked and captured by its image fixed transparent concrete, one is from construction field and due to the rapid urbanization of the1960s. But since that another from sensing field. First, concrete is one of the time, concrete has made considerable progress, not only most important civil engineering materials with the in technical terms, but also in aesthetic terms. It is no advantages of rich raw materials, low cost and simple longer the heavy, cold and grey material of the past; it has production process and second the optical fiber has good become beautiful and lively. By research and innovation, light guiding property which can be arrange to transmit newly developed concrete hasbeen created which is more the light and the sun light transmit according to pre- resistant, lighter, white or colored, etc. Concrete has design road without light-heat, light-electrical or learned to adapt to almost all new challenges that photochemical process, and photo elastic effect which can appeared. In 2001, the concept of transparent concrete be used to study the stress distribution of structures. was first put forward by Hungarian architect Combining the advantages of the concrete and optical AronLosonzi, and the first transparent concrete block was fiber, developing a novel functional material called successfully produced by mixing large amount of glass transparent concrete has an important value in the fiber into concrete in 2003, named as LiTraCon. Joel S. application of construction and sensing. and Sergio O.G. developed a transparent concrete Types of optical fibre material, which can allow 80% light through and only 30% of weight of common concrete. It is worth There are three basic types of optical fibers: mentioning that Italian Pavilion in Shanghai Expo 2010 [1] Multimode graded-index fiber shows a kind of transparent concrete developed by [2] Multimode step-index fiber mixing glass into concrete in 2010. While the transparent [3] Single-mode step-index fibers. concrete mainly focuses on transparency and its objective of application pertains to green technology and artistic A multimode fiber can propagate hundreds of light modes finish. Therefore it is imperative to develop a new at one time while single-mode fibers only propagate one functional material to satisfy the structure in terms of mode as shown below. safety monitoring (such as damage detection, fire warning), environmental protection and energy saving and artistic modeling. Transparent or translucent concrete

ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013 small size of the fibres, they blend into concrete becoming a component of the material like small pieces of aggregate. In this manner, the result is not mixed material like glass in concrete but a new material, which is homogeneous in its inner structure as well as on its main surfaces. The optical fibres lead light by points between the two sides of the blocks. Because of their parallel position, the light-information on the brighter side of such a wall appears unchanged on the darker side. The most interesting form of this phenomenon is

probably the sharp display of shadows on the opposing Fig 1: Types of Fibre side of the wall. Moreover, the colour of the light also Source: Simon Kwan, “Principles of Optical Fibers”, remains the same. San Jose State University, 2002 Since the single-mode V. MANUFACTURING PROCESS fibers propagate light in one clearly defined path, The manufacturing process of transparent concrete is intermodal dispersion effects is not present, allowing the almost same as regular concrete. Only optical fibres are fiber to operate at larger bandwidths than a multimode spread throughout the aggregate and cement mix. Small fiber. On the other hand, multimode fibers have large layers of the concrete are poured on top of each other and intermodal dispersion effects due to the many light modes infused with the fibers and are then connected. Thousands of propagations it handles at one time. of strands of optical fibers are cast into concrete to transmit light, either natural or artificial.Light- III. PRINCIPLE transmitting concrete is produced by adding 4% to 5% Transparent concrete or translucent concrete is work optical fibers by volume into the concrete mixture. The Based on “Nano-Optics”. Optical fibres passes as much concrete mixture is made from fine materials only it does light when tiny slits are placed directly on top of each not contain coarse aggregate. Thickness of the optical other as when they are staggered. Principal can carry fibers can be varied between 2 µm and 2 mm to suit the because optical fibers in the concrete act like the slits and particular requirements of light transmission.Automatic carry the light across throughout the concrete. production processes use woven fibres fabric instead of single filaments. Fabric and concrete are alternately inserted into molds at intervals of approximately 2 mm to 5 mm.Smaller or thinner layers allow an increased amount of light to pass through the concrete. Following casting, the material is cut into panels or blocks of the specified thickness and the surface is then typically polished, resulting in finishes ranging from semi-gloss to high-gloss.

Fig 2: Transparent Panels

Source: entertainingscience.blogspot.com

IV. CONSTRUCTION Transparent concrete is produced out of fine-grain concrete and translucent fabric which is layer cast in prefabricated mould. Because of relatively small amount of fabric, solidity and consistency of transparent concrete Fig 3: Transparent Concrete When Optical Fibres Are In are the same as the high-strength concrete. Almost free Organic Distribution energy loss light penetration through optic fibres makes it possible to see light, shadows and even colours through Source: Victoria Bailey, “Translucent Concrete”, MEEN concrete even by very thick walls. It can be produced as 3344-001 prefabricated building blocks and panels. Due to the

ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013

Fig 6: Decorative Wall Design Fig 4: Transparent Concrete When Optical Fibres Are In Source: www.impactlightinginc.com Layered Distribution D. Artsy Reception Desk Source: Victoria Bailey, “Translucent Concrete”, MEEN If you really want to create a look that stands out, you 3344-001 should opt for this artsy and vogue reception desk where VI. APPLICATION light up in the front and the sides. E. A Lighting fixture and Conversational Piece A. Illuminate Your Walls The transparent concrete cube is, without a doubt, a Transparent Concrete can be used as building material great conversation piece. The new cube line consists of for interior and exterior walls. If sunshine illuminates the four identical pieces of concrete and, due to its special wall structure, then eastern or western placement is geometry; the pieces form a stable structure without recommended; the rays of the rising or setting sun will hit fixing them together. the optical glass fibers in a lower angle and the intensity of the light will be bigger. Besides the traditional applications of a wall, the light transmitting concrete can also be used as wall covering illuminated from the back.

Fig 7: Transparent Partition Wall

Fig 5: Translucent Wall for Architectural View Source: www.litracon.hu Source: www.impactlightinginc.com It can be also applicable at: B. Watch Your Pavement Shine at Sunset This concrete can be used as flooring a passable  Transparent concrete blocks suitable for floors, surface illuminated from below. During the day it looks pavements and load-bearing walls. like typical concrete pavement but at sunset the paving  Facades, interior wall cladding and dividing blocks begin to shine and in different colors. walls based on thin panels. C. Get Creative with Design  Partitions wall and it can be used where the The building units are versatile and can be used in sunlight does not reach properly. many areas of design. Two successful designs using the  In furniture for the decorative and aesthetic light transmitting concrete were a jewel and a concrete purpose. bench. You can also create a logo with colorful figures,  Light fixtures. inscriptions, and pictures and can used for beautification purpose.  Light sidewalks at night.  Increasing visibility in dark subway stations.

ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013  Lighting indoor fire escapes in the event of a Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India for their motivational power failure. and infrastructural support to carry out this research.  Illuminating speed bumps on roadways at night. REFERENCES VII. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES [1] D.D.L. Chung. Cement reinforced with short carbon fibers:  The main advantage of these products is that on a multifunctional material. Composites: Part B.31:511-526, large scale objects the texture is still visible - 2000. while the texture of finer translucent concrete [2] F. Ansari. Practical Implementation of Optical Fiber becomes indistinct at distance. Sensors in Civil Structural Health Monitoring. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 18(8):879-889,  When a solid wall is imbued with the ability to 2007. transmit light, it means that a home can use [3] H.Li, H.G. Xiao, J.P. Ou. Microstructure of cement mortar fewer lights in their house during daylight with nano-particles. Composites Part B Engineering, hours. 35:185-189, 2004.  It has very good architectural properties for [4] Jianping He, Zhi Zhou, JinpingOu, Minghua Huang, “Study giving good aesthetical view to the building. on Smart Transparent Concrete Product and Its  Where light is not able to come properly at that Performances”, Dalian, China, 2011. place transparent concrete can be used. [5] Kalymnios, D. Plastic Optical Fibers (POF) in sensing –  Energy saving can be done by utilization of current status and prospects. 17th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors SPIE, 5855, 2005. transparent concrete in building. [6] K.S.C. Kuang, M. Maalej, S.T. Quek. Hybrid optical fiber  Totally environment friendly because of its sensor system based on fiber Bragg gratings and plastic light transmitting characteristics, so energy optical fibers for health monitoring of engineering consumption can be reduced. structures. Proc. of SPIE, 6174(61742P) ：1-12, 2006.  The main disadvantage is these concrete is very [7] Scherafe, T. “fabric Structure outpace applications: Recent costly because of the optical fibres. structural development expand the range of fabric options”,  Casting of transparent concrete block is difficult Building design and construction, pp.128-138,1988 for the labour so special skilled person is [8] Victoria Bailey, “Translucent Concrete”, MEEN 3344-001 required. [9] Z. Zhou, J.P. Ou, and B. Wang. Smart FRP-OFGB Bars and Their Application in Reinforced Concrete Beams. VIII. CONCLUSION Proceedings of the First International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring and Intelligent Structure, A novel architectural material called transparent Japan: 861~866, 2003. concrete can be developed by adding optical fibre or large [10] seminarprojects.com/s/transparent-concrete-ppt diameter glass fibre in the concrete mixture. The [11] byen.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiTraCon transparent concrete has good light guiding property and the ratio of optical fibre volume to concrete is proportion [12] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber to transmission. The transparent concrete not looses the [13] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translucent_concrete strength parameter when compared to regular concrete [14] www.archicentral.com/litracon-transparent-concrete-4379/ and also it has very vital property for the aesthetical point of view. It can be used for the best architectural [15] www.engineer.tamuk.edu/.../Translucent%20Concrete_Vict appearance of the building. Also used where the light oria_Baile cannot reach with appropriate intensity. This new kind of [16] www.foundationsakc.org/potential building materialcan integrate the concept of green [17] www.impactlightinginc.com energy saving with the usage self-sensing properties of functional materials. [18] www.litracon.hu/ [19] http://www.magtudin.org/Translucent%20concrete.htm IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT [20] http://www.nbmcw.com/articles/concrete/17991- The Authors thankfully acknowledge to Dr.C.L.Patel, transparent-concrete-litracon.html Chairman, Charutar Vidya Mandal, Er.V.M.Patel, Hon.Jt. Secretary, Charutar Vidya Mandal, Dr. F.S.Umrigar, [21] www.thesurfacegallery.com/product/litracon/ Principal, B.V.M. Engineering College, Dr.A.K.Verma, Head & Professor, Structural Engineering Department, B.V.M. Engineering College, Prof. J.J.Bhavsar, Civil Engineering Department, B.V.M Engineering College,

ISSN: 2277-3754 ISO 9001:2008 Certified International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT) Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013 AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY

BhavinKantilalKashiyani was born in 1989 in Jayva village of Jamnagar district, Gujarat. He has received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad in 2011. At present he is Final year student of Master`s Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat Technological University. He has published papers in international journals.

Varsha Raina was born in 1990 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. She has received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of Technology, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda in 2012. She is currently first year student of Master`s Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat Technological University.

Prof. Jayeshkumar R. Pitroda was born in 1977 in Vadodara City. He received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University in 2000. In 2009 he received his Master's Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University. He joined Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering College as a faculty where he is Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Department with a total experience of 12 years in field of Research, Designing and education. He is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering & Management) Thesis work in field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. He has published papers in National Conferences and International Journals.

Dr.Bhavnaben K. Shah was born in 1954 in Ahmedabad City. She received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University in 1977. In 1988she received her Master's Degree in Structural Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda. She joined Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering College as a faculty where she is Associate Professor of Structural Engineering Department with a total experience of 36 years in field of Research in concrete by using industrial waste and its byproducts and education. She is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering & Management) Thesis work in field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. She has published papers in National/International Conferences and Journals.