NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

AND RESEARCH- PUNE

ADVANCED CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

(2018-2020)

REPORT

ON

Translucent Concrete

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Dr. Sachin jain AP18034 Maurya Shah
AP18048 Kush Patel
AP18073 Stavan Vyas

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Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2. OBJECTIVE .............................................................................................................................................. 4
3. NEED ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. MATERIALS FOR TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE ................................................................................ 5
5. PROPERTIES ............................................................................................................................................ 7
6. MANUFACTURING OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE ....................................................................... 8
7. STRENGTH OF CONCRETE................................................................................................................... 9
8. ADVANTAGES OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE............................................................................. 10
9. DISADVANTAGES OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE ...................................................................... 11
10. SCOPE..................................................................................................................................................... 11
11. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 12
12. CASE STUDY ........................................................................................................................................ 14
13. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................................... 16
14. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 17

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1. INTRODUCTION
Translucent concrete (Light Transmitting concrete) is a concrete based
building material with light transmissive properties due to uniform distribution of
high numerical aperture plastic optical fibrеs. It is also called transparent concrete
which is achieved by replacing aggregates with transparent materials. It can only
be made by using prefabrication method. It is also considered as energy saving
material. Translucent concrete was originally developed in 2001 by an architect
Aronlosonzi by using glass fibrеs.
Translucent concrete is new technique different from normal concrete.
Translucent concrete allows more light and less weight compared to normal
concrete. The use of sunlight source of light instead of using electrical electricity
is the main purpose of translucent concrete, so as to reduce the load on non-
renewable sources and result in it into the saving of energy. Optical fibrеs are a
sensing element, so decrease the use of artificial light, the normal concrete is
replaced by translucent concrete, which has natural lighting.

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2. OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this assignment is to understand the concept of Light
Transmitting Concrete. How they can be used in the construction, advantages and
disadvantages of the material, what is the scope of the material and how it can
affect the today's phase of the construction industry.

3. NEED
In high rise buildings and skyscrapers, there is a problem in deriving natural
light in the building, due to obstruction of nearby structures. Due to this problem
use of artificial sources for illumination of the building is increased by a great
amount. So it is very essential to reduce the artificial light consumption in
structure.
 There are some main needs of this Concrete.
o In Green building
o For Energy Saving
o For good Aesthetic appearance

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4. MATERIALS FOR TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE

Translucent cement is produced by utilizing a blend of fibrе optics and fine

concrete. These filaments mix into the solid like some other totals. These optical
filaments can transmit light from common and counterfeit sources into spaces
encased by the translucent solid boards. The fundamental explanation behind
utilizing optical fibrе in concrete is that it can transmit light even an occurrence
point more noteworthy than 600.

The optical fibrе comprises three layers called as centre, cladding and cradle
covering or coat. The light is transmitted through the centre of the optical fibrе.

Translucent cement is fabricated utilizing fine materials as it were. It doesn't

contain coarse totals. This solid can have the compressive quality of that of high-
quality cement around 70 MPa.

Materials utilized:

Bond: As the optical fiber is in charge of transmission of light, there is no

exceptional concrete required. Thus, conventional Portland bond is utilized for
translucent cement.

Sand: Since the translucent cement is fabricated just utilizing fine materials, the
extent of sand should go through 1.18mm sifter. The sand ought to be free from
any debasements, for example, vegetation, vast stones and so on.

Water: Water to be utilized for translucent cement ought to be of drinking water

quality, free from any polluting influences.

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Optical filaments: Optical strands in the scope of 4 to 5% by volume is utilized
for translucent cement. Thickness of the optical strands can be shifted between 2
µm and 2 mm to suit the specific necessities of light transmission.

Fig. Cross section of optical fiber

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5. PROPERTIES

PRODUCT TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE

Form Prefabricated Blocks

Ingredients 96% Concrete, 4% Optical Fiber
Density 2100-2400 kg/m3
Thickness 25-500mm
Color White, Grey or Black
Fiber Distribution Organic & Layered
Finished Polished

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6. MANUFACTURING OF TRANSLUCENT
CONCRETE
• Mostly same as regular cement.

• Glass fibers are spread all through the fine to aggregate and concrete
mix.

• Small layers of the solid are poured on the highest point of one another
and Infused with the strands and afterward interface them.

• Casting of Translucent cement required skilled works and cost of

construction is quite high.

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7. STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
Compressive Strength

The compressive strength for cubes with and without Optical fibers has been
calculated for 3, 7and 28 days. From the test results, it is seen that compressive
strength for 3, 7 and 28 day with fibers is 8.82 N/mm2,11.45 N/mm2 and
21.10N/mm2 respectively. That for Conventional concrete is 9.56 N/2, 13.02
N/mm2 and 23.24 N/mm2 respectively.

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8. ADVANTAGES OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE
1. It has great structural properties for giving great aesthetical view to the
building.

2. When a strong wall is instilled with the capacity to transmit light, it

implies that a home can utilize less lights in their home amid sunshine hours.

3. Where light can't come legitimately at that place translucent cement can
be utilized.

4. Energy sparing should be possible by usage of translucent cement in

building.

5. Totally condition neighborly in view of its light transmitting attributes, so

vitality utilization can be diminished.

6. Translucent cement can be utilized at where light can't come

appropriately.

7. The fundamental favorable position of these items is that on huge scale

questions the surface is as yet obvious - while the surface of better translucent
cement winds up ill defined at separate.

8. Transparent solid uses daylight as wellspring of light rather than electrical

vitality and decreases control utilization. This solid can likewise be utilized cool
nations to transmit warm with daylight.

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9. DISADVANTAGES OF TRANSLUCENT
CONCRETE
• The main disadvantage is this concrete is very costly because of the
optical fibers.
• The casting of the transparent concrete block is difficult for the labour so
special skilled person is required.

10. SCOPE

• Although translucent cement has been utilized principally as an inside

improvement, its makers have "dreams of urban areas that sparkle from inside,
and structures whose windows require not be level, rectangular sheets, but
rather can be self-assertive locales of translucentness inside streaming, bending
dividers".

• It "can in the meantime be building material and the light source can
discrete and interface, can be divider or floor, encompassing lighting or
eyecatcher".

• Translucent cement is additionally an awesome protecting material that

secures against outside outrageous temperatures while likewise letting in light.

• This makes it an incredible bargain for structures in brutal atmospheres,

where it can close out warmth or cool without stopping the working from
sunlight.

• It can be utilized to enlighten underground structures and structures, for

example, metro stations.

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 • Translucent cement could give security applications later on, for
example, hindrances that could be lit "from underneath to make them more
unmistakable around evening time", or to light indoor emergency exits if there
should be an occurrence of a power disappointment.

• It even can possibly be feasible; the aggregate can be supplanted with

recycled glass.

11. LITERATURE REVIEW

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE

Author : Salmabanu Luhar , Urvashi Khandelwal

MATERIALS
Concrete:
Ordinary Portland cement concrete was used for the manufacturing of concrete
blocks of size 7cm*7cm*7cm. Three cubes were made, among which two cubes
were of control concrete and one was of transparent concrete. The weight of
these cubes was varied, the weight of control concrete cubes being 760 gm and
780 gm and that of transparent concrete being 750 gm.
Plastic optical fibrеs (POFs):
POFs are long hollow cylindrical fibrеs which can transmit light without any
significant loss of energy. The diameter of POFs was 1mm.

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
Three blocks of size 7cm*7cm*7cm were made. Two of these blocks were of
control concrete and one was of translucent cement. The optical fibrеs in
translucent cement were bearing similarly at a separation of 8mm. They

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comprised 1% volume of the solid cube. For a transparent solid cube, wooden
moulds of size 7cm*7cm*7cm were readied, each block isolated by punctured
plates. The optical fibrеs were gone through the gaps of these punctured plates.
Before filling these solid shapes with solid they were covered with oil, so that,
the solid blocks would not stick to the moulds. The compressive quality of these
solid shapes was discovered utilizing Compression Testing Machine.

RESULTS

Weight of cube Load Compressive Remarks

Strength(N/mm2)
760 gm 190KN 38.77 Control Concrete
780 gm 200KN 40.23 Control Concrete
750gm 180KN 36.70 LIGHT TRANSMITING
CONCRETE
Table. Compressive strength results

The compressive strength of the concrete blocks was determined using the
compression testing machine (CTM). It can be seen in table 1 that 750gm cube
block and 780gm cube block of control concrete had compressive strength of
38.77Mpa and 40.23Mpa and 750gm of transparent concrete block had a
compressive strength of 36.70Mpa. It can be concluded that the compressive
strength of transparent concrete is similar to that of control concrete.

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12. CASE STUDY

Translucent cement is an entirely uncommon sight. Relatively few individuals

have a specific thought regarding this nor its applications and favourable
circumstances. The biggest task showing this innovation is an imaginative
establishment, called the "European Gate"(2004) which was intended to check
the festival of Hungary joining the European Union (EU). Situated at people in
general passageway of Fortress Monostor in the Hungarian town of Komarom,
this is a standout amongst the greatest bits of workmanship conjugating visual
lighting show and also imaginative utilizing translucent cement. The sun
enlightens the 37.6 ft2 substantial Litracon bit of the statue in the mornings and
late evenings, and by night a significantly more amazing perspective can be
seen as a result of the inserted light sources. One of the main ventures to be at
any point made significantly is this street amid the day the squares show up as
solid asphalt, yet at dusk, they begin to sparkle on account of the light sources
set under at that point. A ringed light example came to fruition around the
principle square as dull came. A greater amount of the utilization or applications
incorporate parcels or segment dividers in office lodges or in houses, and
appealing furniture, and shrewd light apparatuses lighting in dull tram stations.

The Italian structure at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 additionally utilizes the
light transmitting concrete in the building. The translucent squares of cement
were sprinkled with murky squares to make a consistent façade that permits
diffused light in at specific territories and exudes a sparkle during the evening.

There aren't numerous producers of translucent cement. There are not very
many of them, in particular, LitraCon, Lucon and Lucem Lichbeton. By
utilizing strands of various distances across, Litracon™ fashioners can
accomplish distinctive brightening impacts. An article in the New York Times

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recommended that the solid would be exceptionally costly due to its optic fibre
content, so the utilization was little in estimate however very astounding to the
eye. A few models of the item are the accompanying: On the execution side, it's
basically a solid installed with optical filaments running in a grid while as yet
holding the quality of cement. In this way regardless it holds the high thickness
top layer. It is likewise ice and de-icing salt safe, making it exceptionally
recommendable in chilly nations. Thus, it is under flame security grouping A2
and gives high UV opposition.

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13. CONCLUSION
A novel engineering material called translucent cement can be produced by
including optical fiber or huge measurement glass fiber in the solid blend. The
translucent cement has great light managing property and the proportion of
optical fiber volume to concrete is corresponding to transmission. The
translucent cement does not lose the quality parameter when contrasted with
normal cement and furthermore it has exceptionally indispensable property for
the aesthetical perspective. It very well may be utilized for the best engineering
appearance of the building. It can likewise be utilized in zones, where the
regular light can't reach with fitting force. This new sort of building material can
coordinate the idea of efficient power vitality sparing with the utilization self-
detecting properties of utilitarian materials.

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14. REFERENCES

1. https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_do_you_know_about_Translucent_C
oncrete

2. http://www.ijmer.com/papers/Vol5_Issue4/Version-2/H0504_02-5357.pdf

3. http://www.academia.edu/32659710/A_Seminar_report_On_TRANSPARENT
_CONCRETE

4. https://www.scribd.com/document/385474567/COMPRESSIVE-STRENGTH-
OF-TRANSLUCENT-CONCRETE-pdf

5. http://www.ijeset.com/media/3N23-IJESET0802105-V8-I2-PP52-54.pdf

6. http://iosrjournals.org/iosr-
jmce/papers/ICETEM/Vol.%201%20Issue%202/21-39-45.pdf

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