Bond Tests on Clay Bricks and Natural Stone Masonry Externally Bonded with FRP

Nowadays, the solution of durability problems of existing buildings has a key role in civil engineering, in which there is an ever-increasing need for building restorations. Over the past 50 years, there is a growing interest in a new composite material, fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP), suitable for increasing the resistance and the stability of existing buildings and, consequently, for extending their service life. In this context, the effectiveness of the strengthening system is related to the bond behaviour that is influenced by several parameters such as bond length, the stiffness of the reinforcement, the mechanical properties of the substrate, environmental conditions, etc. This paper aims to analyse the main experimental results from shear tests performed on two kinds of masonry substrates and different types of FRP reinforcements. The purpose is to highlight the role played by many parameters to the bond behaviour of these systems: the mechanical properties of substrates; the stiffness of reinforcements; the type of supports (i.e., unit or masonry unit). The obtained experimental results underlined that the specimens realised with masonry unit show an increase in debonding load and different stress transfer mechanisms along the bonded length with respect to the specimens with a unit substrate. The analysis of the data revealed that the presence of mortar joints cannot be neglected because it influences the interface global performance.

GUNITECH®: An Innovative Pumice Based Dry Shotcrete Application

Pumice quarried by LAVA MINING AND QUARRYING SA from Yali Island, Dodecanese, is used in domestic and foreign markets mainly as concrete lightweight aggregate, masonry unit constituents, road substrate, and loose soil stabilization. It is a porous natural volcanic rock with low density, low thermal and noise transmission, and the highest strength among all the natural or artificial lightweight materials of mineral origin. Nowadays, pumice is of additional interest as it has a reduced CO2 footprint because thermal energy is not needed for its expansion compared with the artificial lightweight aggregates. In this context, HERACLES GROUP in collaboration with Sika Hellas has launched a new product containing pumice stone under the brand name GUNITECH®. GUNITECH® is an innovative bagged material for spraying concrete applications. It is a ready lightweight concrete, for building repairs certified as EN 1504-3.

Mechanical characterization of a concrete masonry block enhanced with micro-encapsulated phase changing materials

Global energy demand has been increasing exponentially in the last three decades, which has been exacerbated by climate change. To alleviate the energy load, researchers have been exploring innovative passive techniques to enhance the thermal performance of building envelopes. This research evaluates a novel building envelope solution, which includes the development of a Concrete Masonry Unit that is integrated with bio-based micro-encapsulated Phase Changing Materials. The mechanical behaviour of the enhanced CMU is investigated to study the applicability of PCMs into the no-slump concrete mix. Compatibility with the applicable standards opens a broader prospect for thermal characterization and building performance simulations of PCM enhanced CMU building envelopes.

Investigation of Eco – Friendly Interlocking Masonry Units

This project reveals about the detailed investigation of eco-friendly interlocking masonry units. Interlocking between individual units is enabled by providing grooves, male and female joint on them. Hence less mortar is required for construction of masonry units while using these interlocking bricks. Various trails and tests will be conducted on these interlocking bricks by addition of various materials such as E-wastes, coir pith and saw dust in clay soil. Hence the cost of these masonry units will be reduced. All these various mixtures are mixed at different proportions and ideal mixture are to be found then the grooves are to be altered by male and female joints. Further in addition of clay and sand, wooden powder and coir pith are to be added so that while burning of these masonry units results in good colour and more strength (35% improved strength while comparing to an A-Class brick). Optimum ratio with minimal cost and max efficiency with sustainability to the environment is recommended to the market. In the past year there was a spread of pandemic COVID 19. Precautious measures are taken to avoid the spread of this pandemic. By considering this situation a chemical is to be added in this masonry unit which will be acting as an disinfectious agent which will avoid the entry of various common viruses and bacteria like rhino viruses, salmonella. This ability of the masonry unit will last more than 24 months and beyond. And this can also be replenished after specific period of time. These masonry units have less mortar consumption (70% less mortar consumption while comparing to an A-Class brick), more workability, disinfectious and accommodates waste materials. Hence it is considered to be eco-friendly and sustainable.

The Effect of Biaxial Interlocking Block to the Masonry Wall Properties under Uniaxial Compression Load

Biaxial Interlocking Block (BIB) is a new interlocking block system introduced in this research work. BIB was designed and expected to have the capacity to resist the biaxial load. In this research, the production of BIB was introduced, and the properties of BIB as the individual and walling unit was identified. The features of BIB in terms of density, compressive strength and MOE was identified. To define the impact BIB to the masonry wall capacity, nine walls panel and nine prisms including Solid Block (SB) and cement sand brick (CSB) have been constructed and tested under concentric compressive load. From the data obtained, the BIB walling system was calculated and identified. All the properties values of BIB masonry obtained compared with SB and CSB masonry values. The relationship of masonry properties by different types of masonry unit was also identified and discuss. From all the data and analysis carried out, it is found that the features of masonry unit have influenced the walling properties of the constructed wall. The higher compressive strength of masonry unit will enhance the capacity of the masonry walls. From this research, it is also found that BIB is having excellent properties as a walling unit as compare to SB and CSB wall. A linear relationship between the compressive strength of the samples regardless of the changing in masonry unit compressive strength has been found appropriate with the same slenderness ratio. This work offers valuable data of BIB to the masonry walls properties under compressive load.

Technical and Economical Assessment of Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln

Infrastructure development, particularly the housing problem, is one of the serious issues in developing countries like Nepal. The development of housing complexes is related to various financial and environmental implications. One of the basic parameters involved in the infrastructure development pertinent to Kathmandu valley is the use of alternative materials to masonry unit, particularly bricks. Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) should be adopted and diffused in Nepal because it is high time for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies. Various studies and monitoring has shown that (VSBK) Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln technology is an improved brick making process. The major advantage of VSBK technology is its energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. VSBK consumes 30 to 40% less energy and reduces environmental pollution by 80 to 90% in comparison to FCBTK technology. The Strength of this brick is also higher than FCBTK brick. Further VSBK provides an improved working environment (Reduced Occupational Health Hazards) to the workers.

ANALYSIS OF THE BIM-M DATA MODEL APPLICATION

The article analyses implementation of BIM-M (Building Information Modeling for Masonry) into the BIM (Building Information Modeling) project to ensure the preparation of the masonry project. The BIM-M model consists of a masonry database, a masonry unit model, a masonry unit database model, and masonry unit model definition and BIM masonry wall definition model. The case study proposes a BIM-M model for cavity wall, masonry structures involving project stakeholders and ensuring the exchange of information at the design stage CAD (Computer Aided Design) with the ability to transfer information to other life cycles CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and CAE (Computer Aided Engineering).