Structural Performance of Translucent Concrete Façade Panels

Abstract

Energy conservation is an emerging global issue for sustainable infrastructure development. The building sector energy demand accounts for approximately 34% of the world’s energy demand, and artificial lighting consumes around 19% of the total delivered electricity globally. Developing a new kind of building material that can reduce the demand for artificial lighting energy is vital. This research attempts to address such issues through the development of translucent concrete façade using locally available materials that can be used as energy-saving building material. Bulk density, compressive strength, and flexural strength of translucent concrete containing 2%, 4%, and 6% volume ratios of plastic optical fibers (POF) were studied. Moreover, the flexural toughness of translucent concrete façade panels integrating 6% volume ratio of POF was also investigated. The experimental results showed that using up to 6% volume ratio of plastic optical fibers had no adverse effect on the bulk density of translucent concrete. Translucent concrete specimens exhibited relatively lower compressive and flexural strengths compared to the reference concrete. However, it was evidently observed that the compressive strength of translucent concrete increased with increasing the volume ratio of POF. The flexural strength of translucent concrete was observed to decline with increase in the volume ratio of POF. Results demonstrated that translucent concrete panels have better flexural toughness, ductility, and energy absorption capacity than the reference concrete panel. The energy-saving, environmental conservation, and aesthetic and structural performance improvements stemming from the application of translucent concrete façade panel as architectural wall would foster the development of green and resilient buildings as well as contribute to sustainable construction.

Illumination of Interior Spaces through Structures Made of Unified Slabs of High-Performance Light-Transmitting Concrete with Embedded Optical Fibers

“…Further research has shown that the amount of light that optical fibers are able to transmit is significantly greater than that of plastic pipes or rods [23]. The above-mentioned elements allow for the transmission of the entire light spectrum, including the transmission of infrared radiation, which provides heat losses and gains [24]. One of the most famous and spectacular structures using light-transmitting concrete is the Italian Pavilion for EXPO 2010 in Shanghai.…”

Light Transmitting Concrete: A Review

“…This is an important step to endorse LTC as a potential durable unique building material for construction and infrastructure industries. Tuaum et al [64] have kept the centre of attention on LTC facades panels in order to estimate their structural performance. The mechanical properties viz., flexural strength, compressive strength as well as flexural toughness were investigated on LTC manufactured using OF.…”

“…Not merely those examples mentioned earlier, a few potential uses of LTC were also suggested in the literature; however, they are yet to be constructed practically and accepted widely. Besides the use for aesthetic purposes and reducing the light energy consumptions, LTC can also be employed to guarantee safety, security and supervision in infrastructures of banks, prisons and museums too, as suggested by Tuaum et al [64]. The reason behind it is the usual thicker walls of the prisons in the interest to achieve the impact resistance prerequisite, which consequences in a dark atmosphere and depreciates the basic health conditions of the prisoners and serving staff inside.…”

Performance Evaluation of Light Transmitting Concrete Made with Plastic Optical Fibers

“…They discussed about the inclination of the panel and numerical aperture of a POFs or incident angles according to results of their study for the better effectiveness of the LTC. Tuaum et al [10] developed translucent concrete facade with 2%, 4%, and 6% of POFs and evaluated the bulk density along with the compressive and flexural strength. Their experimental results represented that using POFs up to 6% did not affect the bulk density.…”