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LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE

PRESENTED BY:SAHLA FATHIMAREGISTER NO:11132837

GUIDED BY:SREELEKSHMI UMASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Light transmitting concrete(litracon) also known as translucent concrete, is a concrete based building material having light-transmissive property.

Light-transmissive property is mainly due to uniform distribution Optical Fibers throughout its body.It is also known to be transparent concrete.

It is available as prefabricated building blocks and panels.

INTRODUCTION

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In 2001 the idea of transparent concrete was put forward by Hungarian architect Aron Losonzi.

Successfully produced the first transparent concrete block in 2003,named LiTraCon.

In 2004, he started a German company named LiTraCon and started producing Litracon commercially.

HISTORY

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Transparent concrete block

Translucent concrete works based on “Nano-Optics”.

Fibers are placed directly on top of each other.

Fibers acts like slits and carry light through it.

PRINCIPLE

4Alignment of fibres in a

transparent concrete cube

Flexible, transparent fiber made up of glass or plastic.

It transmits light between two ends of the fiber.

Optical fiber transmits light so effectively that there is almost no loss of light conducted through the fibers.

OPTICAL FIBRE

5Optical fibres

STRUCTURE

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Total Internal Reflection When a ray of light travels from a denser to a rarer medium

such that the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the ray reflects back into the same medium this phenomena is called total internal reflection.

In the optical fiber the rays undergo repeated total number of reflections until it emerges out of the other end of the fiber, even if the fiber is bent.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

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TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION IN FIBRE

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Cement: Ordinary Portland cement is used for transparent concrete.

Sand: The size of sand should pass through 1.18mm sieve.

MATERIALS

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Water: Water to be used for transparent concrete should be of drinking water quality.

Optical fibers: Thickness of the optical fibers can be varied between 2 µm and 2 mm.

Contd…

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The manufacturing process of transparent concrete is almost same as regular concrete.

Small layers of the concrete are poured into a mould and fibres are infused in it.

Newer, semi-automatic production processes use woven fibre fabric instead of single filaments.

Fabric and concrete are alternately inserted into moulds at intervals of approximately 2 mm to 5mm.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

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Another method- Many holes are punched on side walls of the mould.

Optical fibres have to be run through these holes from one end to the other.

Concrete is poured into it.

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Contd…

Compressive strength-25-220 N/mm2

PROPERTIES

13Figure shows the comparison of compressive

strength of OPC and LTC

Flexural strength-7.7 N/mm2

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Contd…

Figure shows the comparison of flexural strength of OPC and LTC

MATERIAL PERFORMANCE: Concrete retains its strength Frost and de-icing salt resistant. Fire protection. Highest UV resistance.

Contd…

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Pavement illuminated by transparent concrete

Energy saving can be done by utilization of transparent

concrete in building.

It has very good architectural properties for giving good

aesthetical view to the building.

ADVANTAGES

16Sunlight passing through the

transparent concrete wall

Transparent concrete blocks is suitable for :

Floors

Ceiling

Pavements

Load-bearing walls

Partitions wall

APPLICATIONS

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Sillhouttes of trees

Panels illuminate in different colours

In furniture for the decorative and aesthetic purpose.

Light sidewalks at night.

Increasing visibility in dark subway stations.

Lighting indoor fire escapes, in the event of a power failure.

Illuminating speed bumps on roadways at night

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Stairs

1)THE EUROPE GATE

It is located in Fortress Monostor in the Hungarian town, Komarom

The sun illuminates the 37.6ft large Litracon piece of the statue in the mornings and late afternoons

In night an even more impressive view can be seen because of the embedded light sources.

EXAMPLES

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Day view

Night view

2) CELLA SEPTICHORA , PECS, HUNGARY

It has a door made of Litracon Panels set in a steel frame.

Contd…

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Day viewNight view

3) NEW HEADQUARTERS OF BANK OF GEORGIA:

Walls, walks, receptions, offices and consultation desks are illuminated by transparent concrete

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1)Very high cost about $1000/m2.

2) Labours with technical skills are needed to use it

DISADVANTAGES

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◦ Light transmitting concrete is an emerging trend in concrete technology.

◦ Its initial cost is high. But, routine maintenance is not required and in long run it may be advantageous. In fact it worth the cost.

◦ It’s a green building material reducing the lightning cost during day time. It’s proved to provide both aesthetic appearance and structural stability.

◦ In future the it’s cost is expected to decrease.

◦ It is one of the best applications of optical glass fibers which is related to technical textiles.

CONCLUSION

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A. B. Sawant, R. V. Jugdar, S. G. Sawant, Light Transmitting Concrete by using Optical Fiber:International Journal of Inventive Engineering and Sciences (IJIES)ISSN: 2319–9598, Volume-3 Issue-1, December 2014

Basma F. Bashbash, Roaa M. Hajrus, Doaa F. Wafi, Mamoun A. Alqedra:Basics of Light Transmitting Concrete:Global Advanced Research Journal of Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ISSN: 2315-5124) Vol. 2(3) pp. 076-083, March, 2013

Bhavin K. Kashiyani, Varsha Raina, Jayeshkumar Pitroda, Dr. Bhavnaben K. Shah. A Study on Transparent Concrete: A Novel Architectural Material to Explore Construction Sector:International Journal of Engineering and Innovative Technology (IJEIT),Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013

REFERENCES

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M.N.V.Padma Bhushan, D.Johnson, Md. Afzal Basheer Pasha And Ms. K. Prasanthi. Optical Fibres in the Modeling of Translucent Concrete Blocks:International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA), Vol. 3, Issue 3, May-Jun 2013, pp.013-017

Patil Gaurao S., Patil Swapnal V. Light Transmitting Concrete- A New Innovation:International Journal of Engineering Research and General Science,Volume 3, Issue 2, Part 2, March-April, 2015,ISSN 2091-2730

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P.M.Shanmugavadivu, V. Scinduja, T.Sarathivelan, C.V Shudesamithronn, An Experimental Study On Light Transmitting Concrete:IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology

Soumyajit Paul, Avik Dutta.Tranclucent concrete:International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 10, October 2013

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