Building material and Construction technologies for Ecological Sustainable Developments

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

SUSTAINABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS GENERALLY ACHIEVED BY : Defining clear goals sympathetic to sustainability issues. Concentrated effort at design stage to achieve these goals. Focussing on decisions like site selection, building layout , design etc. Choosing the right materials which are recyclable after their useful lives Choosing the right methods of construction in terms of energy and resource efficiency Creating an efficient and integrated building envelope harnessing the gifts of nature Using HVFAC systems.
SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIALS

In building construction industry Variety of alternative building materials are available which provide better, efficient, durable and cost effective construction and also ensure judicious utilization of available limited resources with least possible degradation of environment. Besides being ecofriendly, the other advantages of using these materials for construction are; 1. Better functional efficiency 2. Cost effectiveness 3. Better durability 4. Ease of construction 5. Better finish 6. Minimum waste0 7. Less maintenance cost 8. Minimum defects 9. Less energy intensive
SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI 3

BASIC BUILDING MATERIALS

1. Modern innovations of concrete High Volume fly Ash Concrete (HVFAC) All though the Indian code does not encourage a replacement of above 35% of flyash, it has been adequately demonstrated in projects spread out in different parts of the globe as well as in India ( no less prestigious than the Delhi Metro) that concrete mixes with 50% fly ash and cement contents lower than conventional have yielded far more superior performance. Such HVFAC consumes nearly 40 % less cement and hence save heavily on GHG emissions. cost at par or less,  are far more durable than conventional, and hence have a lower life cycle cost.

2. Modern innovations of brick Cellular Lightweight Concrete Blocks (CLC) CLC blocks are masonry blocks cast out of cement-flyash-sand slurry. Foam produced separately is introduced during mixing so as to incorporate millions of tiny cells of air in the mix thereby  reducing the block weight as well as  enhancing its insulative value-3.5 to 4 times that of burnt clay bricks  Due to the lighter weight of the blocks they are easier to handle and  consume masonry mortar far less than conventional brickwork.  Due to the reduced self weight of tall buildings the earthquake forces get reduced and it is possible to economize on the structural design requirements.

MATERIALS REPLACING WOOD AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL RECONSTITUTED WOOD PRODUCTS

1. Developed Bagasse-Cement Boards and Panels: different natural and synthetic and man-made fibers have been used for making high density fiber-board using cement (inorganic) as binder. The development is aimed to develop building boards and door shutter using bagasse fiber. Building board is suitable for partitioning, paneling etc.

2. Arhar Stalk Cement Board: The work being carried out in CBRI, Roorkee, India is intended to explore the possibilities of using fibrous biomass such as Arhar Stalks, Groundnut Shells etc. for the production of composite materials. Composite panels developed using Arhar Stalks meets the requirements of ISO, BS, and BIS specifications.
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3. Coir CNSL (cashew nut shell liquid ) Board The Coir-CNSL Board is a wood alternative which can be used for surfacing, door and window shutters, partitioning, false ceiling, panelling , furniture, cabinets, packaging etc. It is a single layer flat pressed class Medium Density Fiber (MDF) Board. It has low water absorption, negligible change in dimensions due to water absorption, workable with normal wood working tools, paintable, pre-laminable, nailable and screwable, passes IS-3087. The board is eco-friendly and can replace wood or re-constituted wood by 100%. Salient features of Coir-CNSL Board are as under; i) Both the starting materials i.e. coconut fibre and cashew nut shell liquid are available substantially in coastal areas and are renewable agro-wastes. ii) Technology is developed at pilot level and ready for transfer. iii) The technology and product both are patented. iv) Technology is techno-economically viable as per pre-estimates

4 Lightweight Sandwich Panels The cellulosic refuse of paper industries are rich in small fibres and can be used to make value added product, which can be used for acoustics, thermal insulation and false ceiling purposes in buildings. Their end applications is in  partitioning,  paneling,  thermal insulation and  false ceiling with its unique aesthetics  product has been patented  most suitable for paper industries as a down stream process.

5. Coir-CNSL Thermal Insulation Boards This is a composite material, which utilises the coconut fibres as reinforcing material and CNSL as the natural binder. The density of the board is kept very low i.e. around 350-450 kgs/ mtr3. The product can be given suitable shape to be fitted with equipment or surface to be insulated. The thermal conductivity is 0.0745 kcal/hr.m2.C.
SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI 7

6. Rigid PVC Foamed and Un-foamed Boards

Variety of products made up of PVC areavailable commercially for use in building construction such as pipe, sanitary wares, tiles, electric switches, and wires etc. there is another product made of PVC is board which is a wood alternative. The product and technology has been developed in CBRI at pilot level using industrial PVC scrap. In this developmental work emphasis has been given to keep the dependency on imported equipment and chemicals lowest. This helped in keeping the overhead expenditure at lower side leading to lower product cost.

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

MATERIALS BEING DEVELOPED

Other Alternative Building Materials Under Development at CBRI : Some other new alternative building materials are being developed in CBRI using other un-exploited natural resources as well. A few such materials include; 1. Plywood/ Veneer waste lignin composite Boards 2. 3. Bagasse-Plastic Composites Boards Oil palm fiber cement boards

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

ALTERNATIVE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES

Down through the ages, people have been using raw earth for building their living spaces . Every single continent, and nearly every country, possesses a rich heritage of earthen buildings. It is evaluated that: about 1.7 billion people of the world's population live in earthen houses: About 50 % of the population in developing countries, and at least 20% of urban and suburban populations. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION EARTH HOUSES

The world's oldest earthen building still standing is about 3,300 years old. The Ramasseum, made of adobes, was built around 1,300 BC in the old city of Thebes. It can still be visited on the left shore of the Nile, opposite Luxor.

People from all countries with so many diverse cultures, social & constructional habits; have used this material from our Mother Earth

BUILDING WITH EARTH..

The end of the 19th century, the skills of earth builders have been progressively lost.

At the dawn of this new millennium, our Mother Earth gave us two challenges:

How to build with earth on a large scale, while respecting Nature? How to realize architecture full of light, suppleness, simplicity, imagination and beauty with a heavy and formless mud?

EARTH TECHNOLOGY : This research aims to make extensive use of raw earth as the main building material, thereby using a local resource, which can help developing technologies that are energy saving, eco-friendly and sustainable.

on minimising the use of steel, cement and reinforced cement concrete (RCC). alternative stabilizers to cement and alternative waterproofing with stabilized earth, composed of soil, sand, cement, lime, alum and tannin

The following technologies have been mastered and are disseminated since years: Stabilised rammed earth foundations Rammed earth walls, rammed manually Composite plinth step plinth with CSEB and plinth beam cast in U shaped CSEB Wide variety of compressed stabilised earth blocks (15 modules available today) Stabilized earth mortars and plasters Composite columns Round hollow CSEB with reinforced cement concrete Composite beams and lintels U shaped CSEB with reinforced cement concrete

1.STABILISED RAMMED EARTH FOUNDATIONS

This type of foundations is used since 1990 for all kinds of buildings, up to 4 floors high. The soil, excavated from the trench foundation, is sieved and measured in the mean time. Sand needs always to be added. The cement percentage will vary with the soil quality.

2.STABILISED RAMMED EARTH WALLS

This technique has been introduced in Auroville only in 1995, for the construction of Mirramukhi School, which has been renamed Deepanam School.

PROCESS :
A slipping type formwork has been designed and developed.

The panels are lifted up and the walls are built like piers walls.

The process is similar to the modern rammed earth system practiced in USA or Australia, but adapted to the local context of a developing country and, with light peripheral equipment and manual ramming.

ROLE Of SAND : Some sand is always added: 25 to 30 % according to the soil quality, so as to reduce shrinkage. Cement percentage will vary with the soil quality, but in Auroville, we always use 5 % by weight of cement.

"Earthen buildings (rammed earth) are cool in summer and hot in winter.-HYDRO THERMAL BEHAVIOUR.
THERMAL BEHAVIOUR OF EARTHEN WALLS

3.COMPRESSED STABILISED EARTH BLOCKS

The soil for a compressed earth block (CEB) is slightly moistened, poured into a steel press (with or without stabiliser) and then compressed either with a manual or motorized press. CEB can be compressed in many different shapes and sizes. For example, the Auram press 3000 proposes 16 types of blocks.

Soil Stabilization
Many stabilizers can be used. Cement and lime are the most common ones. Others, like chemicals, resins or natural products can be used as well. The selection of a stabilizer will depend upon the soil quality and the project requirements:

Cement will be preferable for sandy soils and to achieve quickly a higher strength. Lime will be rather used for very clayey soil, but will take a longer time to harden and to give strong blocks. The input of soil stabilization allowed people to build higher with thinner walls, which have a much better compressive strength and water resistance.

SOIL SUITABILITY FOR CSEB :

A soil is an earth concrete and a good soil for CSEB is more sandy than clayey. It has these proportions:

According to the percentage of these 4 components, a soil with more gravel will be called gravely, another one with more, sand, sandy, others silty or clayey, etc.

The aim of the field tests is to identify in which of these four categories the soil is.

From the simple classification it will be easy to know what to do with this soil.

ADVANTAGES OF CSEB :

A local material A bio-degradable material Limiting deforestation Cost efficiency Energy efficiency and eco friendliness An adapted material A transferable technology A job creation opportunity Market opportunity Reducing imports Flexible production scale

ENVIRONMENTAL COST CSEB and rammed earth are more eco-friendly: Pollution emission 2.4 times less than wire cut bricks 7.9 times less than country fired bricks Energy consumption 4.9 times less than wire cut bricks 15.1 times less than country fired bricks

MONETARY COST A finished m3 of CSEB wall is: 25.9 % cheaper than country fired bricks 47.2 % cheaper than wire cut bricks A finished m3 of rammed earth wall is: 26.2 % cheaper than CSEB wall 45.3 % cheaper than country fired bricks bricks 61.0 % cheaper than wire cut bricks

STRENGTH CSEB and rammed earth are: 1.4 times the strength of country fired bricks 0.5 times the strength of wire cut bricks

HOLLOW INTERLOCKING BLOCKS . Its principle is to reinforce the masonry by grouting a concrete into the holes of the blocks where stands a steel rod at the critical locations (Corners, ends, near openings, etc,). Horizontal reinforcements are also cast in blocks with a U shape.

. The advantage of hollow interlocking CSEB, compared to hollow concrete blocks, is that they offer keys, which interlock in the other blocks. Thus these walls offer more resistance to shear and buildings would be even stronger. They would better resist earthquakes and without major damages.

COMPOSITE COLUMNS

This technique is extensively used since 1995. Round hollow CSEB are reinforced with cement concrete. Reinforcements vary with the height and load, but the rod diameter cannot exceed 10 mm for the blocks 290 and 12 mm for the blocks 240.

COMPOSITE BEAMS
This technique is extensively used since 1993. U-shaped CSEB are with reinforced cement concrete. Reinforcements vary with the span, but the rod diameter cannot exceed 12 mm for the blocks 290 & 295 and 16 mm for the blocks 240 & 245. The bottom part of the beam is precast in a reversed position on the ground. Once cured, after 28 days, it is lifted and the middle and top parts are built on it. The blocks are used as lost shuttering, but they also help the compressive strength of the beam.

The double and triple height beams have only their bottom part precast on the ground. The rest is done in situ. The reinforced concrete part must be placed downwards: to bear the tensile forces and the U shaped block will react in compression. The maximum span, with a triple height beam, will be limited to 3 m with reinforcement steel bars of 12 mm. The main limitation of this technique is handling long beams.

STABILISED EARTH WATERPROFING

The aim of this research is to find alternative plasters to cement plasters for waterproofing roofs. The earth is mixed with sand and stabilised with cement and a paste made of lime, tannin, alum (Ammonium sulphate) and water.

Tannin is extracted by soaking into water broken seeds of an Indian tree, named kaddukai in Tamil Nadu. Its botanical name is Terminelia Chebula. The lime paste is prepared by mixing powdered alum with lime and tannin juice and extra water.

PROCEDURE :Three coats of plaster are done with different proportions of these components. The last coat, which is the most waterproof, is done with a 5 mm thick plaster composed of soil, sand and lime paste. No cement is added to the latter. Note that cement is giving strength to the plaster and also helping the waterproofing, but the effectiveness of this waterproofing is given by the combination of clay in the soil, lime, alum and tannin. (The results obtained with this waterproofing are excellent: But this research is still under way )

SOME OTHER TECHNOLOGIES Appropriate building technologies

Ferrocement
Ferrocement a variation of reinforced concrete is another appropriate technology for certain types of constructions. It uses the commonly available, energy intensive materials like cement and steel but in a highly efficient manner thus saving scarce material resources. With an ability to be cast into thin Ferrocement can be used in shell elements, Ferrocement exciting ways to make opens possibilities which are not durable, light weight buildings possible in conventional brick and concrete. SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER,
JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI 42

Appropriate building technologies

Sandbag helters/emergency shelters by Nadar Khalili of iran

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI 43

Appropriate building technologies

Rat-trap bond wall, brick arches and filler slab

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

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Appropriate building technologies

Filler slab

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

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Appropriate building technologies

Brick arch and Brick corbelling

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI 46

THANK YOU

SHAMA GUPTA, M.ARCH., IVth SEMESTER, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, NEW DEHI

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