scholarly journals Bacterial Concrete as a Sustainable Building Material?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elżbieta Stanaszek-Tomal
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
The Right ◽  
Bacterial Concrete

The right selection of building materials plays an important role when designing a building to fall within the definition of sustainable development. One of the most commonly used construction materials is concrete. Its production causes a high energy burden on the environment. Concrete is susceptible to external factors. As a result, cracks occur in the material. Achieving its durability along with the assumptions of sustainable construction means there is a need to use an environmentally friendly and effective technique of alternative crack removal in the damaged material. Bacterial self-healing concrete reduces costs in terms of detection of damage and maintenance of concrete structures, thus ensuring a safe lifetime of the structure. Bacterial concrete can improve its durability. However, it is not currently used on an industrial scale. The high cost of the substrates used means that they are not used on an industrial scale. Many research units try to reduce production costs through various methods; however, bacterial concrete can be an effective response to sustainability.

Green gold of Africa – Can growing native bamboo in Ethiopia become a commercially viable business?

2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (05) ◽  
pp. 628-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Böck
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Subtropical Zone ◽  
New Construction ◽  
Increasing Demand

With concerns about climate change and the search for sustainable construction materials, significant attention is now being paid to Africa's natural resources. Ethiopia, known as Africa's political capital, has a rapidly expanding economy with increasing demand for new construction materials. Through public private partnerships projects the country is developing a sustainable business model to promote bamboo as a raw material. The subtropical zone of Ethiopia is home to approximately 65% of Africa's bamboo resources, an area of over 1 million hectares. Bamboo is potentially an ideal source of local, sustainable purpose-engineered building materials for growing cities not only in Ethiopia but across Africa. Production of conventional construction materials such as steel and concrete is expensive, highly energy intensive and unsustainable, requiring large quantities of water and is strongly dependent on imported raw materials. Bamboo is a renewable building material widely cultivated in Ethiopia but not yet utilized in modern construction. Structural Bamboo Products (SBP), similar to engineered wood products, have excellent potential to partially replace the use of more energy-intensive materials. Projects such as African Bamboo are taking steps in managing, cultivating and using Ethiopian bamboo species to help mitigate rapid deforestation in East Africa by creating alternative “wood” sources and sustainable business opportunities.

scholarly journals Pioneering Construction Materials through Prototypological Research

Biomimetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Heisel ◽  
Dirk E. Hebel
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
New Materials ◽  
Specific Question ◽  
New Type ◽  
Architectural Research

The article at hand follows the understanding that future cities cannot be built the same way as existing ones, inducing a radical paradigm shift in how we produce and use materials for the construction of our habitat in the 21st century. In search of a methodology for an integrated, holistic, and interdisciplinary development of such new materials and construction technologies, the chair of Sustainable Construction at KIT Karlsruhe proposes the concept of “prototypological” research. Coined through joining the terms “prototype” and “typology”, prototypology represents a full-scale application, that is an experiment and proof in itself to effectively and holistically discover all connected aspects and address unknowns of a specific question, yet at the same time is part of a bigger and systematic test series of such different typologies with similar characteristics, yet varying parameters. The second part of the article applies this method to the research on mycelium-bound building materials, and specifically to the four prototypologies MycoTree, UMAR, Rumah Tambah, and Futurium. The conclusion aims to place the results into the bigger research context, calling for a new type of architectural research.

Experimental Investigation on Bacterial Concrete Using Bacillus Subtitles

2019 ◽  
pp. 207-219
Author(s):  
Saradha P ◽  
Vidhya K ◽  
Visali S
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Healing Property ◽  
Maximum Compressive Strength ◽  
Special Growth ◽  
The Right ◽  
Bacterial Concrete

This Project deals with the present investigation is to obtain the performance of the concrete by the microbiologically induced special growth. One such has led to the development of a very special concrete known as bacterial concrete or otherwise called as self-healing concrete where the bacteria is induced in the mortars and concrete to heal up the faults. Researchers with different bacteria proposed different concrete. Here an attempt was made by using the bacteria “Bacillus Subtitles”. The Study showed a significant increase in the compressive strength due to the addition of bacteria. When 30ml of Bacillus subtitles is added in M20 grade concrete is attains maximum compressive strength. In Concrete self-healing property is successfully achieved due to addition of bacteria. Bacillus subtitles is used to induce Caco 3 precipitation. The main part of work will focus on how the right conditions can be created for the bacteria not only to concrete but to produce as much calcite as needed to repair cracks.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Building Materials Based on Sustainable Development Indicators

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Mona Baglou ◽  
Parviz Ghoddousi ◽  
Mohsen Saeedi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Concrete Block ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Sustainable Development Indicators ◽  
Sustainable Materials ◽  
The Impact

Construction industry regarded as one of the key aspects of achieving the goals of sustainable development in communities. In this regard, the choice of building materials is one of the key challenges in order to improve project performance with respect to sustainable development indicators and the use of sustainable materials, is an effective step towards achieving sustainable construction. This research uses information and evidence, interview and questionnaire prepared (by five points Likert scale method). Also, it has provided expert opinions related indicators widely used in a construction materials, manufacturing process and defining the impact of the production of these materials on sustainable development deals. Validity and reliability of the questionnaires were also performed (with Cronbach's alpha method). As a result of this research, Cement was identified as the most unsustainable material, after that Steel and then Brick and Glass were located with a wide margin. So Light concrete block, Gypsum, Stone, Lime, and Concrete were identified as the most sustainable materials according to existing indicators respectively. The consequences of this study can help the project executors in order to promote the use of sustainable building materials in construction and also industries will be aware of the impact of the sustainability indicators on their products.

scholarly journals Iron and Aluminium Production Wastes as Exclusive Components of Alkali Activated Binders—Towards a Sustainable Alternative

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9938
Author(s):  
Nuno Cristelo ◽  
Fernando Castro ◽  
Tiago Miranda ◽  
Zahra Abdollahnejad ◽  
Ana Fernández-Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Heat Of Hydration ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Alkaline Solutions ◽  
By Products ◽  
Alkali Activated

The sustainability of resources is becoming a worldwide concern, including construction and building materials, especially with the alarming increase rate in global population. Alternative solutions to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as a concrete binder are being studied, namely the so-called alkali-activated cements (AAC). These are less harmful to the environment, as lower CO2 emissions are associated with their fabrication, and their mechanical properties can be similar to those of the OPC. The aim of developing alkali-activated materials (AAM) is the maximization of the incorporated recycled materials, which minimises the CO2 emissions and cost, while also achieving acceptable properties for construction applications. Therefore, various efforts are being made to produce sustainable construction materials based on different sources and raw materials. Recently, significant attention has been raised from the by-products of the steelmaking industry, mostly due to their widespread availability. In this paper, ladle slag (LS) resulting from steelmaking operations was studied as the main precursor to produce AAC, combined with phosphating bath sludge—or phosphate sludge (PS)—and aluminium anodising sludge (AS), two by-products of the surface treatment of metals, in replacement rates of 10 and 20 wt.%. The precursors were activated by two different alkaline solutions: a combination of commercial sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate (COM), and a disposed solution from the cleaning of aluminium extrusion steel dies (CLE). This study assesses the influence of these by-products from the steelmaking industry (PS, AS and CLE) on the performance of the alkali-activated LS, and specifically on its fresh and hardened state properties, including rheology, heat of hydration, compressive strength and microstructure and mineralogy (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier transform infra-red. The results showed that the CLE had no negative impact on the strength of the AAM incorporating PS or/and AS, while increasing the strength of the LS alone by 2×. Additionally, regardless of the precursor combination, the use of a commercial activator (COM) led to more fluid pastes, compared with the CLE.

scholarly journals Sustainability Comparison for Steel and Basalt Fiber Reinforcement, Landfills, Leachate Reservoirs and Multi-Functional Structure

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
IfeOluwa B. Adejuyigbe ◽  
Paschal C. Chiadighikaobi ◽  
Donatus A. Okpara
Keyword(s):  
Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Basalt Fiber ◽  
Steel Structures ◽  
Fiber Reinforced Concrete ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Waste Products

To a large extend sustainable construction of any structure greatly depends on the materials used in its formation. Traditionally, materials such as bricks, mortar, steels are still important components of most buildings. But modern technology is equally changing how materials are created and used.Based on the above explanation, the objective of this paper was to compare the steel structures with basalt fiber reinforced concrete. As basalt fiber is still not wide spread, this paper focus on the advantages, usages and applications of basalt fiber reinforced concrete to solve construction and structural challenges. The method and analysis used in this paper was derived from research and works done by previous authors on similar topics. Previous research information show that producers and users of these materials make choice of building materials to depend on the area the structure is proposed to be built and on the taste and ideas given by the client. Their consideration is often devoid of environmental, psychological, social and economy factors. The research methods lead to the understanding on the use and importance of basalt fiber concrete for landfills, leachate reservoirs and multifunctional structure.This paper helps structural users and engineers to know that green materials with good environmental characteristics that support nature are being considered as best construction materials due to what they are composed of. Waste and cost are also crucial as far as construction materials are concern. Even now, management of waste products from landfills specially leachates requires better construction designs in tropical region like Nigeria. More so, in line with the recent safe the climate calls, efforts to select the kind of material used in raising structures are becoming unavoidable.

scholarly journals Construction Waste as a Resource in a Sustainable Built Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (08) ◽  
pp. 28-36
Author(s):  
Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik ◽  
Ljudmila Koprivec
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Construction Waste ◽  
Key Factor

The built environment requires ever-increasing amounts of raw material resources and at the same time bears the responsibility for the resulting waste. Waste is generated throughout the life cycle. In the initial phases it is referred to as industrial waste, while during construction, reconstruction, and demolition it is called construction waste. Construction waste is most voluminous but it also has a great potential in circular economy that aims at the closed loop cycle where already used construction materials and components are recovered as raw materials. Sustainable building principles include four basic strategies, waste avoidance, construction materials and components re-use, continued use, and recycling. The possibility of construction waste treatment and its possible recovery in the building process depends on the type of prevailing materials that are contained in building elements as well as on detachability, separability and inseparability of structural joints and components. The architect plays a responsible role in decreasing the volume of construction waste as the conception of a building represents the key factor in sustainable construction waste management. Planning a construction with a good dismantling potential at the end of the building’s life cycle includes a number of factors such as the choice of building materials with a low environmental impact, the design of detachable composite materials and structures as well as the design of mono material structures. This article focuses on waste resulting from the built environment and discusses architectural concepts with a potential of reducing the volume of construction waste and its potential recovery as a construction resource.

scholarly journals GREEN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IN INDIA AND BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Kothari
Keyword(s):  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Green Building Design ◽  
The Impact

The green building design aims to minimize the need for the non-renewable energy of these resources, optimize their sustainability and maximize their conservation, recycling and usage. The use of effective building materials and construction techniques is maximized. Architectural bioclimatic technology will also optimize on-site usage of sources and sinks. It requires only minimum electricity to fuel itself and efficient appliances to meet its lighting, air-conditioning and other needs. Green buildings architecture optimizes the use of renewable energies and efficient waste and water management methods to create practical and hygienic working conditions for indoor environments. Materials such as chemical, physical and mechanical material properties and an appropriate specification are the fundamental elements of construction design and responsible for the mechanical strength of the design. The construction of green buildings is also the first step in choosing and utilizing eco-friendly materials with or better characteristics than traditional building materials. Based on the practical, technical and financial requirements, construction materials are usually selected. But, given that sustainable development has been a core issue in recent decades, building industry that is directly or indirectly responsible for a substantial share of annual environmental destruction, by pursuing environmentally sound constructions and buildings should take responsibility for contributing to sustainable growth. The quickest way for manufacturers to start integrating environmental design practices into buildings would be the diligent procurement of eco-friendly sustainable construction materials, including options for new material uses, recycling and reusing, organic product creation and green resource use. This paper aims to show how green building materials will help reduce the impact on the atmosphere and create a cleaner building that can be healthy for the occupant or our environment. In the sustainable progress of a nation, the choice of building materials that have reduced environmental burdens is helpful.

scholarly journals Cost Estimate Reduction Using Analogue Building Materials

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-125
Author(s):  
Laura Platace ◽  
Sandra Gusta
Keyword(s):  
Building Material ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Direct Costs ◽  
Cost Estimate ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Public And Private

Abstract One of the most important parameters that is currently used in public and private procurement in building process is the lowest price. The legislation of Latvia permits that an estimate forming process does not include criterions of quality, durability, and the potential high cost of maintaining the building during the exploitation time. That allows the constructor to reduce the cost estimate by using cheaper construction product or technology and does not let to provide the highest possible quality and the basic principle of sustainable construction. One of possible construction cost reduction solutions is the replacement of building material with equal building material, at the same time assessing the quality and replacement impact on the direct costs of estimate. The tasks of the research are: (1) to do literature review on what is an estimate, what an estimate includes and the basis of estimate; (2) to analyse the existing construction estimate, to evaluate the used construction materials and to study technical characteristics of materials, to explore a specific construction junction; (3) to replace the selected construction materials with analogous, thus reducing the direct costs of estimate; (4) to evaluate the affect of the price of the construction material on quality; (5) to compare the obtained cost estimate with the current cost estimate; (6) to implement laboratory research and to compare technical characteristics of the construction materials and analogue materials in order to check if they are the performing parameters that are defined in the declaration of performance. After comparing of the obtained direct costs of construction and analysing the quality of construction materials it is possible to provide the most appropriate offer of the direct costs of estimate to satisfy the customer’s interests.

Bioactive Additives for Self-Healing of Concretete Microstructure

2019 ◽  
Vol 945 ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Michail Bruyako ◽  
L. Grigoryeva
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Monitoring ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Setting Time ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Aerobic Bacteria ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Bioactive Component ◽  
Biological Surface ◽  
Surface Active ◽  
Active Substances

As a result of the influence of the corrosive environment, the construction materials have a decrease in performance. To increase the service life of the structures, continuous monitoring and, if necessary, restorative repairs are carried out. One of the ways to maintain the initial properties for materials is to give them a self-healing effect by introducing a specially developed additive containing a bioactive component in the manufacturing process. The article presents the results of research on the ability of building materials based on mineral binders to self-repair. Mixtures containing nutrient medium for the biomass of aerobic bacteria were used as bioadditives. Portland cement and gypsum binder were used as mineral binders. The obtained results allow to make a conclusion about a significant change in the rheological properties of cement-sand mortars due to the presence of biological surface-active substances that are part of the cells of microorganisms. The effect of changing the concentration of cells on the setting time and on the strength characteristics of cement-sand mortars was established.

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