Innovative construction materials and techniques are imminent to survive the climate change associated extreme weather impacts. Nanotechnology in construction sector improves the comfortability and quality of life by enhancing the mechanical properties of cement and concrete, stronger and lighter structural composites, low maintenance coating, reducing the thermal transfer rate and/or insulation, and construction-related nano-sensors. Various types of nanoparticles used in construction sector are Nano-titania, Carbon nanotubes, Nano-silica, Copper and Clay nanoparticles, Zycosoil, and nanostructured metals such as Nano-ferric oxide, and Nano-aluminium oxide. Advantages of nanomaterials application in building construction are displayed in materials such as concrete, steel, timber, glass, insulations, coatings, energy and nanosensors. The objective of this study is to analyze the nanomaterials application in construction industry besides environmental, health and social impacts. The novelty of this study includes stakeholder engagement matrix for nanomaterials in construction sector. Although nanotechnology is in its infancy, there is a need to develop a framework for nanotechnology regulation especially in construction sector due to its impact on climate change and vice versa due to the significant contribution of construction sector to greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, a nanotechnology regulation framework has been proposed for identification and effective stakeholder engagement. Implications of nanotechnology on construction materials, narrowing the nano-divide, scope for sustainable development and concepts of implementation have been discussed in detail.
Expansive subgrade soil needs to be re-engineered to enhance the load-bearing capacity as it lacks the capacity to sustain traffic and pavement load. Although various chemical modification techniques have proven to be effective for stabilization, they are expensive and unsustainable. Coronus aggregate material is an uplifted coralline deposit abundantly available in the Pacific. The current study focuses on the strength behavior of fine-grained soil notably clayey soil when blended with coronus material as a potential alternative to the usual soil stabilization methods employed in the construction industry. To successfully stabilize the clayey soil sample with the coronus material, the particle size distribution, coefficient of uniformity, and curvature of the clayey soil sample and coronus material were determined. The results indicate that the coronus material is well-graded. The consistency of the soil sample was determined using the four-point Casagrande method for Atterberg limits i.e, the liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage limit of the clayey soil. The load-bearing capacity of the clayey soil stabilized with coronus material was determined using standard compaction tests to calculate the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of clay before and after blending with 10% increments of coronus material. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test results of all the samples were determined using standard CBR laboratory tests. It has been observed that the addition of coronus material has improved the load-bearing capacity of clayey soil. Hence, it is recommended that, wherever possible, coronus material be utilized as a stabilizing agent to improve the geotechnical properties of expansive subgrade soil.
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