Advances in Sustainable Materials and Resilient Infrastructure

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Frontmatter

2. Chapter 1. Tiered Quantitative Assessment of Life Cycle Sustainability and Resilience (TQUALICSR): Framework for Design of Engineering Projects

   Krishna R. Reddy, Jaqueline R. Robles, Suzane A. V. Carneiro, Jyoti K. Chetri

   Abstract

   Considerable efforts have been made recently to incorporate sustainable practices into the design of engineering projects (e.g., civil infrastructure) with an aim to minimize their net negative environmental, economic, and social impacts. There have been several tools developed to assess and compare the sustainability of potential design alternatives; however, most of these tools focus on assessing the environmental impacts, with minimal regards to the broader social and economic dimensions. Additionally, the increased occurrence of climate change-related events and impacts have challenged the function of engineered systems and their ability to achieve sustainable development, forcing policymakers and stakeholders to consider resilience in engineering designs and projects. Resilience and sustainability are inseparable, as an engineering system cannot be sustainable if it is not resilient; nevertheless, few tools and frameworks integrate resilience and sustainability assessments at a project level. In this chapter, a tiered quantitative assessment of life cycle sustainability and resilience (TQUALICSR) framework is proposed, with the following key features: (1) integration of resilience and sustainability into a unified assessment framework; (2) a flexible, tier-based selection of tools to assess the environmental, economic, and social impacts of a project and its resilience; (3) integration of interdependencies among the technical, environmental, social, economic, and resilience dimensions; and (4) applicability to any life cycle stage of an engineering project, from planning to decommissioning. The different steps involved in the framework, useful triple bottom line quantification tools, and application challenges and outlook are highlighted.

3. Chapter 2. The Effect of COVID-19 on Public Transportation Sectors and Conceptualizing the Shifting Paradigm: A Report on Indian Scenario

   M. B. Sushma, S. Prusty

   Abstract

   The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus led to nationwide lockdowns, and the WHO policies of social distancing have shifted the entire state of the world’s public mode of the transportation system. The outbreak of this novel virus has affected people’s travel behavior, putting the entire system in a static mode. Not only the social mobility was paused but has also severely impacted most of the economic activities associated with the transportation system. Thus, this scenario raises a need for the economist and transport planners to understand the situation and consider improving the country’s economy. This paper delves into the impacts of the outbreak of pandemic situation on the public transportation system of India during and post lockdown periods with the help of statistical facts and some situational realities. The paper also discusses the people’s consequences and changes in travel behavior patterns, which will help the public transport service providers understand the challenges and prepare to address them while resuming their services. The data analysis is done based on the information collected from surveys and various secondary sources. The study identifies a massive reduction in the use and demand of the public transportation system due to the massive restrictions on public transport to limit virus transmission and people’s fear of getting encountered by COVID-19. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to support the transportation providers in improving the transport scenario to a sustainable level post-COVID-19.

4. Chapter 3. Life Cycle Assessment to Identify Sustainable Lime-Pozzolana Binders for Repair of Heritage Structures

   Degloorkar Nikhil Kumar, Rathish Kumar Pancharathi

   Abstract

   Lime has been used as a binding material in construction of monuments, forts, temples, etc., since time immemorial and throughout the world. With the advent of cement in nineteenth century, usage of lime started deteriorating. However, use of lime is inevitable in heritage structures as it is the compatible material for repair of such ancient structures. Though commercial production of hydraulic lime got reduced in developing countries, abundant availability of non-hydraulic limes with addition of pozzolanas, namely GGBS and fly ash can contribute to the mechanical strength gain and other durability characteristics. This study focuses on the development of hydrated lime with pozzolanic replacements of fly ash or GGBS with different dosages with an aim to develop sustainable mortars for repair of heritage structures. In this study, comparative analysis was done in terms of energy, carbon dioxide emissions, and other environmental effects of lime-pozzolana-based mortars with conventional cement mortars based on LCA in the background. Based on the various parameters investigated, it is concluded that lime–fly ash-based mortars with 75% pozzolanic replacement was found to be a sustainable alternative.

5. Chapter 4. Utilization of Recycled Industrial Solid Wastes as Building Materials in Sustainable Construction

   Chinchu Cherian, Sumi Siddiqua, Dali Naidu Arnepalli

   Abstract

   In the last decades, the environmental sustainability problem has been pronounced due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization and ever-increasing quantities of waste materials. The construction industry is a principal consumer of natural reserves, resulting in a fast depletion of non-renewable resources, accumulating more waste, and creating considerable environmental, esthetic, economic, and social problems. With increasing environmental awareness, a more responsible approach to the environment is to increase the use of waste by-products from one industry as raw material for another industry. The efficient waste recycling and valorization for a wide range of applications can make a big step toward the economy and obviously toward the nation’s progress, simultaneously abating further pollution. Extensive utilization of recycled waste as eco-friendly raw materials in construction is considered an innovative, thoughtful strategy to divert significant volumes of waste from landfills, conserve natural raw materials, and contribute to environmental sustainability and protection. Recently, the recycling domain researchers have tried to produce alternative next-generation building materials incorporating non-hazardous “green” wastes as mineral additions, in harmony with the sustainability of the environment. However, the stringent environmental regulations, lack of user guidelines and public awareness, and property inconsistencies impeded the large-scale waste utilization for potential applications. This chapter discusses the various solid waste byproducts generated from industrial activities and their environmental implications. The chapter highlights the recycling potential of major industrial waste materials, focusing on the possible use in geotechnical systems, highway pavements, and construction materials. Finally, this chapter is an effort to develop the awareness and importance of industrial waste management and its utilization in a productive manner.

6. Chapter 5. Development of a Machine Learning-Based Drone System for Management of Construction Sites

   Kundan Meshram, Narala Gangadhara Reddy

   Abstract

   Site inspection for quality checking, work progress, material unloading, etc., has to be done by site owners, architects, structural designers, waterproofing agencies, etc. In order to do this task, each of these parties has to do a large number of site visits, which adds to the site's cost. Moreover, due to so many people visiting the site, there are often management and construction issues. To avoid this, a novel drone-based site monitoring and management system has been proposed in this paper. This work uses machine learning algorithms to identify inconsistencies in material unloading, construction quality, site progress, worker activities, etc. The underlying technique is flexible and can be adopted to add multiple event types for better site quality maintenance. Upon statistical analysis at over five different-sized sites, it is observed that the drone-based machine learning model can reduce site construction costs by over 10% and improve site construction quality by 15%, thereby improving the overall efficiency of construction sites and development.

7. Chapter 6. Influence of Binder Chemical Properties on the Elastic Properties of Asphalt Mixes Containing RAP Material

   Ramya Sri Mullapudi, Venkata Joga Rao Bulusu, Sudhakar Reddy Kusam

   Abstract

   In the present study, the influence of the chemical makeup of the virgin and the RAP binders on the elastic properties of the RAP binders and mixtures has been systematically evaluated. For this purpose, bituminous concrete (BC-1) mixtures were prepared using VG30 viscosity grade bitumen and different percentages of RAP (0, 15, 25, 35, and 45%). RAP binder blends were prepared at the corresponding RAP binder to total binder ratios. The prepared binder blends were tested employing the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for determining their chemical composition. Dynamic shear rheometer was employed to test the binder blends [at various temperatures (15, 25, and 35 °C) and at various frequencies (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2.0 Hz)] to determine their phase angle at different temperatures (58, 64, 70, and 76 °C). The load and deformation pulse data obtained during the testing of resilient modulus of mix was used to calculate the time lag values for different mixes. The binder phase angle and the mix time lag decreased with incorporation of higher RAP binder proportion in the binder and mix, indicating that elastic recovery was increased with RAP content. The time lag of the RAP mixtures is found to have good relationship with ketones, aliphatics, and aromatic indices determined from the chemical analysis.

8. Chapter 7. Principles and Prospects of Using Lignosulphonate as a Sustainable Expansive Soil Ameliorator: From Basics to Innovations

   Nauman Ijaz, Zia ur Rehman, Zain Ijaz

   Abstract

   In recent literature, substantial efforts have been made by various researchers to use lignosulphonate (LS) as an expansive soil stabilizer. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of the principles and prospects of using LS as an expansive soil stabilizer. In this regard, the attributes and limitations of LS as a soil stabilizer and its physicochemical effects on the geotechnical properties of expansive soils are discussed. The impact of LS as a stabilizing agent on important geotechnical properties of soil such as consistency, swelling-shrinkage behavior, strength characteristics, permeability, and deformation parameters are brought into the limelight. Besides, a discussion is carried out on the soil stabilization mechanism of LS based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Computed Tomography (CT-Scan), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and Specific Surface Area (SSA). Literature reveals that LS has promising potential to be used as an expansive soil stabilizer and it ensures the durability and sustainability of civil engineering structures resting on such soils given that proper technical considerations are made. This article is aimed to equip geotechnical engineers with the advanced knowledge of LS as an expansive soil stabilizer.

9. Chapter 8. Use of Photocatalyst in Self-Cleaning Constructions Material: A Review

   Naveen Thakur, S. B. Singh, Anshuman

   Abstract

   Pollution arising from the urban activities and industry has a significant impact on the aesthetic view of building and quality of life. This study reviews the framework, problem, challenges, and benefits of self-cleaning construction materials. The present study gives the critical review analysis of the relevant literatures considering the self-cleaning concrete properties, process, and critical assessment of different approaches of self-concrete techniques. Recently, studies based on self-cleaning concrete have provided alternative for traditional concrete. Specifically, use of “Photocatalyst” as a self-cleaning” agent has revolutionized the concrete industry. The self-cleaning properties of photocatalyst, e.g., TiO₂, Bismuth, and ZnO have been investigated and compared. These photocatalysts activated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation can result in increased organic particulates decomposition. They check the level of pollutants like NOx, SO_2, and Volatile Organic Compound and keep the air pollution free. It is concluded that Bismuth (Bi₂O₂CO₃) photocatalyst gives better result in self-cleaning than TiO₂ and ZnO.

10. Chapter 9. Investigations on Chemical, Mechanical, and Long-Term Characteristics of Alkali-Activated Concrete

    Arkamitra Kar, Kruthi Kiran Ramagiri, Sriman Pankaj Boindala, Indrajit Ray, Udaya B. Halabe, Avinash Unnikrishnan

    Abstract

    The global annual production of 4.1 billion tons of portland cement (PC) causes significant carbon dioxide emissions and depletion of natural limestone reserves. Alkali-activated binder (AAB) is a possible sustainable solution to this problem. AAB is produced by the reaction between an aluminosilicate-rich precursor (such as low calcium fly ash, blast furnace slag, and metakaolin obtained as industrial waste and by-products) and an alkaline activator composed of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide. AAB is a potential substitute for PC to lower the carbon footprint and prevent industrial waste disposal into utilizable land. The present formulation of AAB needs thermal curing, which is energy-intensive for plant and field productions. In-situ thermal curing at 60–80 °C is impracticable and limits AAB usage to precast members only. This study focuses on developing AAB mixtures cured at ambient temperature and characterizing their mineralogical, chemical, and mechanical properties for varying precursor proportions (fly ash to slag ratios) and activator modulus, Ms, calculated as (sodium silicate: sodium hydroxide). Using these proportions, the compressive strength and bond strength of alkali-activated concrete (AAC) cured under ambient conditions are evaluated at room temperature and under the influence of high exposure temperatures up to 900 °C. AAC prepared using 70% fly ash, 30% slag, and Ms of 1.4 with ambient curing is proposed as optimal from this study.

11. Chapter 10. Ash Utilization Strategy in India—A Way Forward

    P. N. Ojha, Brijesh Singh, Puneet Kaura, Rajiv Satyakam

    ABSTRACT

    Ash generated from thermal power plants is an industrial by-product and considered as a one of the major pollutants in India due to the surplus amount of generation and hazardous nature. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change under supervision of government of India is already in the process of framing a policy toward 100 percent ash utilization. The chapter discusses the trends and challenges in the utilization of ash in India. It also discusses classification of ash and its standards and specification. The main aim of the chapter is to focus on research-based technologies and practices for enhancing ash utilization in order to promote sustainable infrastructure and circular economy in the country which will also lead to clear the stock of unutilized ash in India. In this chapter various research done by National Council for Cement & Building Materials, India toward ash utilization such as substitution of fine aggregate with bottom ash, concrete made with fly ash, geopolymer concrete with low calcium and high calcium systems, sintered fly ash light weight aggregate in structural concrete, controlled low strength material for backfilling and clay fired pond ash bricks has been discussed. With the advancement in technology of coal firing system, conveyance, and collection system of ash, it has acquired a status of value-added materials. However, chapter highlights further need of formulation of standards for sampling of ash and research in the areas of development of multifunctional admixtures for high performance flyash concrete and geopolymer concrete, development of design parameters for fly ash-based geopolymer concrete and sintered flyash light weight aggregate for application in reinforced and prestressed concrete.

12. Chapter 11. Sustainable Pavements for Low-Impact Developments in Urban Localities

    B. R. Anupam, Anush K.  Chandrappa, Umesh Chandra Sahoo

    Abstract

    With the incessant urbanization and increased weather calamities associated with land-use change pattern, there is a dire need to adopt infrastructure development strategies, which will result in low impact towards environment. In the context of pavements, the conversion of natural soil into an impervious fabric made of pavements has increased the runoff quantity, reduced groundwater recharge, and has also increased the ambient atmospheric temperature in the urban setup. In order to reduce the adverse effect of urbanization, low-impact development strategies such as pervious concrete pavement and cool pavements are gaining significant interest among the engineers. In this chapter, pervious concrete pavements and cool pavements are described comprehensively providing various aspects of materials, design, performance, limitations, and future scope. This chapter, being the first of its kind, aims at providing solutions to deal with stormwater management and urban heat island mitigation.

13. Chapter 12. Review on Biopolymer Stabilization—A Natural Alternative for Erosion Control

    S. Anandha Kumar, G. Kannan, M. Vishweswaran, Evangelin Ramani Sujatha

    Abstract

    Soil erosion by agents like wind and water is a serious environmental concern that has a damaging effect on agricultural activity, surface water quality, construction activities and human health. The soil parameters that influence erosion susceptibility are particle size, moisture content, density, clay content and permeability. Some common techniques to combat erosion are vegetating the slopes, mulch application, surface roughening, provision of physical barriers and stabilizing the soil. The most common stabilizer used to prevent erosion is polymers, particularly synthetic polymers but the choice of these polymers suffers disadvantages like cost and adverse environmental effects. Biopolymers offer an attractive alternative as a soil stabilizer to prevent wind erosion. Biopolymers are sustainable resources that are eco-friendly and leave less carbon footprint. Recent studies on biopolymer modification of soil report that they flocculate the particles leading to an increase in size, improve the shear strength of the soil, reduce the hydraulic conductivity and prevent collapsibility of the soil. The findings from the detailed review of literature show that the biopolymers can modify the soil by the formation of hydrogels that stiffens the soil matrix and prevent the infiltration of water into the soil. Also, it leads to the inter-particle adhesion owing to the formation of viscous gels. This study attempts to advocate the choice of biopolymers to combat soil erosion by providing a review on the various biopolymers used for controlling erosion and debate the merits and demerits of the choice of biopolymer for erosion control.

14. Chapter 13. A Parameter to Assess the Strength of Fly Ash and GGBS-Based Geopolymer Concrete

    Sumanth Kumar Bandaru, D. Rama Seshu

    Abstract

    Geopolymers are being developed as a new binder instead of cement paste for concrete production. Geopolymer paste binds with coarse aggregates, fine aggregates together, forming geopolymer concrete (GPC). Several researchers have used industrial waste by-products such as fly ash (F), ground granular blast furnace slag (GGBS) in combination with alkaline activator solutions in the production of geopolymer binders. Several variables have been identified in the published literature that influences the strength of GPC. This paper introduces a new parameter called “Binder Index (Bi)”, which combines the effects of different parameters, and can be considered as a unique parameter affecting the compressive strength of GPC, and thus help in the development of criteria based on the Binder Index for mix design of the GPC mixtures.

15. Chapter 14. Influence of Soft Drink Bottle Caps as Steel Fibre on Mechanical Properties of Concrete

    P. Teja Abhilash, K. Tharani, P. V. V. Satyanarayana

    Abstract

    Concrete plays a key role in the construction industry and also in development of infrastructure. It is the most extensively used construction material in the world because of its ability to be moulded and to gain strength when hardened. Failure of concrete structures is because of low tensile strength, limited ductility and little resistance to cracking. With the advancement in technology, the usage of Steel Fibre reinforced Concrete has gained its prominence as it offers resistance to cracking and thus is considered to be superior in terms of attainment of strength parameters. The present study aims at usage of soft drink bottle caps as steel fibre in percentage by weight. Waste soft drink bottle caps are not biodegradable and hence the current attempt is to use them in the forever developing construction industry. The caps act as steel fibres and are added at increasing percentages by weight of cement. Samples are casted for each percentage of steel fibre and mechanical properties are tested after 7 days and 28 days of curing. From the tests, it is found that the addition of steel fibres at 1.5% by weight is found to give better results when compared to ordinary cement concrete. Thus, it can be said that bottle caps act as a sustainable material in the construction industry.

16. Chapter 15. Effect of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Aggregates on Strength of Fly Ash-GGBS-Based Alkali-Activated Concrete (AAC)

    Hima Kiran Sepuri, Nabil Hossiney, Sarath Chandra, Yu Chen, Patrick Amoah Bekoe, Vishnu Sai Nagavelly

    Abstract

    This paper investigates the effect of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregates on strength properties of fly ash/GGBS alkali-activated concrete (AAC). The raw materials used for the preparation of AAC were ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash (FLA), sodium hydroxide (SH), sodium silicate (SS), natural and RAP aggregates. The replacement rates of 0, 25, 50 and 75% by weight for natural by RAP aggregates were studied. Fresh and hardened properties of developed AAC were experimentally determined. It was found that workability and density of fresh AAC decreased with inclusion of RAP aggregates. AAC with 75% RAP showed slump and unit weight of 155 mm and 2250 kg/m³, respectively, while 28 days compressive and split-tensile strength were 21 and 1.35 MPa, respectively. Though there was a reduction in strength properties, this study shows that RAP aggregates in AAC can be considered for non-structural applications. Furthermore, it increases the reusability of RAP in paving industry and encourages recycling in an environment-friendly manner.

17. Chapter 16. An Index for Assessment of Onsite Waste Management Performance in Indian Construction Sites

    Swarna Swetha Kolaventi, Tezeswi Tadepalli, M. V. N. Siva Kumar

    Abstract

    The management of waste produced during construction, remodeling and demolition is challenging. Therefore, there is an emerging need to develop tools for evaluating the construction waste management (CWM) performance. In the current article, an index system is devised to assess the onsite construction waste management performance of the construction projects. An aggregation method used to formulate the onsite construction waste management performance assessment (OCWMPA) index is a weighted linear combination. A total of 32 variables and five categories are identified. Questionnaire survey and case studies are used to assess the index, from which (i) relative importance index (RII) to rank the corresponding factors, (ii) category weightages and (iii) OCWMPA index are calculated. The analysis results conclude that among all the variables, (i) ‘usage of RRR (reduce, reuse, recycle) strategy’ is the top ranked variable with RII of 0.786 and (ii) among the five categories, ‘construction method and planning’ has the highest category weightage, i.e. 0.286 and (iii) based on the index system, one among five construction projects displayed ‘excellent performance’ towards construction waste management with an index value of 847. The proposed OCWMPA index will enable project managers and engineers to identify and rectify significant deficiencies in the implementation of CWM onsite.

18. Chapter 17. Production of Lightweight Aggregates for Construction Industry from Industrial Byproducts: A Review

    Manu S. Nadesan, Abin Joy

    Abstract

    The global aggregates market size was valued at USD 463.3 billion in 2019 and it also exhibits rapid growth. Natural aggregates mainly consist of manufactured crushed stone and sand created by the crushing of bedrock or naturally occurring unconsolidated sand and gravel. These aggregates are mainly used for various construction applications all over the world. On the other hand, proper disposal of various industrial wastes is a big concern of society in the twenty-first century. Converting these industrial byproducts into artificial lightweight aggregates will be highly beneficial for sustainable development. It was found that industrial wastes like fly ash, municipal solid waste, palm oil shell, and water treatment sludge are some of the potential materials to produce lightweight aggregates. The physical and chemical characteristics of these materials are presented in this chapter. This chapter aims to review various production processes of artificial lightweight aggregates and the influence of the processing condition on the properties of the produced aggregates. The physical and mechanical properties of the produced aggregates were also itemized. Based on these characteristics the potential uses of the aggregates are also identified. Also, this chapter emphasises the influence of the produced aggregates in various construction applications. From the literature works, it was noticed that the aggregates produced from these industrial wastes have the potential to use them in structural grade concretes.

19. Chapter 18. Sulfate Resistant Mortar Using Coarse Fraction of Red Mud as Fine Aggregate

    Anshumali Mishra, Bajaya K. Das, Shamshad Alam, Sarat Kumar Das

    Abstract

    Bauxite residue, red mud is an industrial solid waste generated from alumina industries and is highly alkaline in nature. Alkalinity nature of red mud poses a negative impact on environment, hence there is a need to explore different options for its mass utilization, to reduce the storage volume. In the present study, the coarse fraction (>0.075 mm) of red mud has been used as fine aggregate in cement mortar replacing the river sand in a binder to the aggregate ratio of 1:3 and 1:3.5. The compressive strength of the cube size (5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm) sample prepared using red sand and cement mortar has been studied after 28-day water curing. The effect of sulfate environment on compressive strength of 28 days cured and fresh (1 day) sample has been studied by exposing it to mixture of Na₂SO₄ and MgSO₄ and only MgSO₄ solutions separately for 90 days. To find passivation ability of the mortar towards corrosion, nondestructive polarization test has been carried out. The compressive strength of red sand mortar is found to increase after 90 days exposure to sulfate environment and the same shows higher resistance towards corrosion of the reinforcing bars due to high alkalinity (pH > 11) as compared to the natural sand. The increase in strength of red sand mortar after exposure to sulfate environment is correlated with the microstructural changes. Although the percentage of red sand in red mud is limited to about 20%, the present study will help in reducing the accumulation of red mud thereby reducing the environmental problem.

20. Chapter 19. Condition Assessment and Repair Strategy for RCC Chimney of Thermal Power Station Located in Semi-Arid Region in India

    T. V. G. Reddy, P. N. Ojha, Brijesh Singh, Rizwan Anwar, Vikas Patel

    Abstract

    Distress caused by corrosion is generally noticed in many RCC structures in India. This distress in the form of reinforcing corrosion and cracking of cover concrete is found due to free ingress of water, oxygen and carbon dioxide through concrete cover kept to protect reinforcing bars corrosion in these structures. Due to inadequate specifications to different deteriorating influences to resist durability, many RCC structures constructed during early 80s, late 90s and even upto 1999 in India, till the revision of codal provision on strength and durability as laid down in IS 456–2000 (Reaffirmed: 2021), Plain and reinforced concrete—code of practice, are found to be in partly distressed conditions. The investigated RCC structure is 40 years old RCC Chimney with 150 m height in Thermal Power Station located in semi-arid region of India. Condition assessment study using Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques was carried out on the RCC structure for finding out the cause and extent of distress. Repair methodology was proposed based on the test results. Keeping in view the diverse nature of repair materials, the Quality Assurance (QA) & Quality Control (QC) to evaluate the performance of repair material and repair work as whole is essential for achieving the desired service life. Paper highlights various tests carried out on variety of repair materials like rust remover, anticorrosive coating, corrosion inhibitors, bond coats, grout materials, Polymer Modified Mortar (PMM), Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) wrap, protective coatings, etc. The test results of repair materials were compared with available codes, manuals & manufacturers test certificate. A detailed quality inspection was carried out in order to follow the approved repair methodology and quality assurance plan. NDE techniques like rebound hammer, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), core extraction and pull off test, etc. were also done to verify the effectiveness of repair.

21. Chapter 20. An Experimental Study of Using Biopolymer for Liquefaction Mitigation of Silty Sand—A Sustainable Alternative

    S. Smitha, K. Rangaswamy

    Abstract

    Several non-conventional and sustainable methods for liquefaction mitigation like use of biopolymer additive in soil are gaining popularity in the recent years. The present study involves exploring the use of biopolymers as a sustainable substitute for mitigation of liquefaction. It includes the results of 10 numbers of strain-controlled cyclic triaxial tests at different strain levels (0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1 and 1.2%). The stress path behavior and pore pressure response of the treated and untreated silty sand have been analysed from the test results. It was found that the excess pore water pressure (PWP) buildup in silty sand, obtained from Wayanad district in Kerala, was significantly reduced as a consequence of treatment using agar biopolymer. The excess PWP ratio reduced by 53, 41, 36, 33 and 29% for 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1 and 1.2% strain amplitude, respectively. Also, the excess PWP increased with increase in strain magnitude. The stress paths clearly indicated that the stabilization using biopolymer prevented liquefaction failure and enhanced the shear strength of soil. This was because of the biopolymer gel that was present within the pore spaces of treated soil restricted the pore pressure buildup and also increased the soil particle to particle contact which enhanced the overall shear resistance.

22. Chapter 21. Durability Based Service Life Estimation of RC Structural Components

    Bhaskar Sangoju

    Abstract

    Deterioration/degradation of reinforced concrete (RC) structures due to corrosion is one of the major durability problems all over the world. Experience in the recent past shows that RC structures do not provide adequate resistance to the deterioration due to aggressive environments. It can be said that the long term durability of RC structures can be related to the transport properties and the chemical composition of concrete being used. Therefore, to build durable RC structures, importance has to be given to durability considerations besides strength considerations. It can be said that rebar corrosion is one of the major durability concerns and is mainly due to the entry of deteriorating agents like chlorides and carbon dioxide (CO₂) through the cover concrete. Therefore, the durability performance of RC structure/structural member depends mainly on the near surface quality of concrete and adequate rebar cover thickness. So, it is always better to specify the acceptance criteria as the durability performance criteria for the as-built structure(s), besides the commonly used strength criteria. This chapter discusses on dominant rebar corrosion mechanisms, performance based specifications for long term durability and the results of a parametric study on durability based service life estimation of RC structures/components.

23. Chapter 22. Composite Cement: A Sustainable Binding Material for Real Time Construction Practice in India

    Chandra Sekhar Karadumpa, Rathish Kumar Pancharathi

    Abstract

    The extraction of lime stone for the manufacturing of cement is a highly energy consuming process that demands high embodied energy. Consumption of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like fly ash (FA) and granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) results in reduction in energy and carbon emission. Ternary blended composite cement (CC), binary blended Portland slag cement (PSC) and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) and reference Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) are used in this study to prepare three grades of concrete viz. M20, M30 and M40 designed as per IS 10262:2019. The energy demand, carbon footprint and cost involved in the preparation are estimated and compared with OPC, PPC, PSC and CC concretes. At 28 days, PPC, PSC and CC concretes exhibited 11.48%, 8.43% and 15.6% lower compressive strength respectively compared to OPC concretes. With respect to M20 grade, PPC, PSC and CC concretes respectively consumed 14.64%, 24.11% and 27.52% less energy than OPC concrete for the same grade. The carbon emission intensity is estimated to be 14.63%, 27.93% and 28.9% less for PPC, PSC and CC concretes respectively compared to OPC. The cost of producing M20 grade of PPC, PSC and CC concretes is about 10.2%, 14.64% and 19.8% lower than OPC concrete production. This difference in energy, carbon emission and cost is found to reduce with increase in grade of concrete for all the blended cements. Composite cement concretes have proven to be energy efficient with less carbon emission and cost compared to OPC, PPC and PSC concretes.

24. Chapter 23. Leaching Methods for the Environmental Assessment of Industrial Waste Before Its Use in Construction

    Mercedes Regadío, Julia Rosales, Manuel Cabrera, Steven F. Thornton, Francisco Agrela

    Abstract

    In a world where circular economy and zero waste have increasing importance, exploring the potential to transform low-value waste residues into a marketable product is essential. Each year industries produce hundreds of thousands of tonnes of process residues that accumulate on site until their eventual disposal. However, some waste residues can be used as construction materials, providing economic benefits from their sale. This also has other positive outcomes, such as avoiding costs of disposal to landfill, conserving natural resources and reclaiming land. The prerequisite is that the wastes do not present a risk to human health and the environment, that is, they do not release contaminants during future beneficial use. To evaluate potential hazards, the wastes are leached with water in laboratory tests using leaching methods. If no elements are released above legal standards in such tests, the waste residues can be safely used. A wide range of leaching methods exists, with no general agreement regarding their utilization or supporting guidelines for correct application. The legislation framework related to leaching tests exists at international and national levels, with updated, derogated and adopted standards at any time. This chapter presents an analysis of the leaching methods currently used for the environmental assessment of wastes prior to their reuse as construction materials.

25. Chapter 24. Behavior of Laterally Loaded Mono-Piled Raft Foundation in Sloping Ground

    Ayush Kumar, Sonu Kumar, Ashutosh Kumar

    Abstract

    The piled-raft foundation has widely been identified as a cost-effective and rational foundation system for high-rise buildings and industrial structures because of its effectiveness in attaining the capacity and serviceability requirements of the buildings. For horizontal ground conditions, a widely accepted design philosophy is available for this foundation system. However, designing and constructing a foundation at the crest of a sloping ground is yet to be developed, as it requires considering the mobilization of shear strength and deformation within the foundation footprint resting on the crest of the sloping ground. This study examined the behavior of a mono-piled raft embedded at the crest of a sloping ground using a commercial finite element-based computer program Abaqus3D. After validation of the developed numerical model using the available literature results of the behavior of a single pile embedded in a sloped clayey soil, the influence of the raft component of the piled-raft resting on the ground surface and embedded inside the soil was investigated. Thereafter, the analyses of a mono-piled raft foundation were carried out by changing the slope geometries, pile slenderness ratio, and changing the loading configuration. A mono-piled raft foundation is an improvement over a single pile where embedded and on-surface raft mono-piled raft foundation carried 275% and 176% more lateral load than a single pile at a lateral displacement of 5 mm. The bending moment developed within the pile component was maximum at a depth below the pile head indicating the effect of slope in reducing the mobilization of maximum bending moment at the pile head. This study may assist in designing the structures requiring mono pile-raft foundation such as wind turbine or transmission tower foundation on slopes.

26. Chapter 25. The Role of Civil Engineering in Achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals

    Lavanya Addagada, Srikrishnaperumal T. Ramesh, Dwarika N. Ratha, Rajan Gandhimathi, Prangya Ranjan Rout

    Abstract

    The United Nations, 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) with 169 targets, are envisaged to tackle the key social, economic, and environmental challenges that exist throughout the world and provide a framework to ensure peace and prosperity for people and life on the planet. Engineers, in particular, civil engineers, play a vital role in deploying innovative, sustainable, and nature-based solutions beyond the traditional engineering practices to overcome global issues and deliver SDGs. The solutions or holistic approach to attain SDGs must corroborate a harmony with nature rather than incorporating “Green” features to conventional approaches. Civil engineers must adopt long-term self-sustaining state-of-the-art technologies to minimize the carbon footprint and fulfill the needs of future generations without exploiting ample natural resources. Innovative civil engineering approaches should mitigate the impact of climate change on the environment, address water supply and sanitation issues, develop resilient infrastructure, conserve and restore life on land and underwater, reduce poverty, and guarantee food security to the growing population. Therefore, addressing the global challenges with sustainable practices would automatically aid in achieving SDG’s. The present work highlights the prominent role of civil engineers to meet all the 17 SDGs by 2030. Furthermore, the current study also emphasizes the necessity of partnerships to attain interdependent SDGs.

27. Chapter 26. Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Through Interdependency Among Performance Indicators

    Suchith Reddy Arukala

    Abstract

    Infrastructure buildings consumes large amount of resources and energy emitting hazardous waste and pollution. To make a control on these inputs and outputs, it is necessary to implement and adopt the principles of sustainability. Based on the principles, indicators and criteria are very desirable to assess the performance of infrastructure facilities throughout their life-cycle. The present study investigates the specific sustainable indicators with respect to Environmental, Social, Economic, and Technological criteria keeping in view the climatic variations, topography, and regional context of developing countries like India. The objective of the study is to find the interdependency of the pre-determined sustainable indicators and criteria for assessing the building performance towards sustainable construction. The finding of the study simplifies the decision to be taken by the stakeholders to improve and optimise the performance of buildings for achieving sustainable and resilient buildings.

28. Chapter 27. Imbibing Energy Efficiency in Buildings Through Sustainable Materials—A Review

    P. Mani Rathnam, Shashi Ram

    Abstract

    Energy efficiency implies consuming less energy by a building for its functioning. It can also be defined as eliminating energy waste. Buildings use about 40% of global energy, which is highest compared with other sectors. Energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by 30% to 80% with the help of proven and commercially available energy-efficient technologies. Furthermore, construction materials also play an important role in achieving energy efficiency in buildings. Apart from the energy-efficient building designs and use of renewable energy systems, the use of materials that consume less energy during its production is also crucial. Better building material selection and energy-efficient characteristics of building materials can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and reduce the energy consumption. This paper reviews various research approaches for achieving energy efficiency in buildings using sustainable materials.