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Source: www.litracon.hu/productlist.php
Keywords: Transparent
Architectural, Concrete.
Concrete,
Optical
Fibre,
I. INTRODUCTION
Just a few decades ago concrete was often
misunderstood, disliked and captured by its image fixed
due to the rapid urbanization of the1960s. But since that
time, concrete has made considerable progress, not only
in technical terms, but also in aesthetic terms. It is no
longer the heavy, cold and grey material of the past; it has
become beautiful and lively. By research and innovation,
newly developed concrete hasbeen created which is more
resistant, lighter, white or colored, etc. Concrete has
learned to adapt to almost all new challenges that
appeared. In 2001, the concept of transparent concrete
was first put forward by Hungarian architect
AronLosonzi, and the first transparent concrete block was
successfully produced by mixing large amount of glass
fiber into concrete in 2003, named as LiTraCon. Joel S.
and Sergio O.G. developed a transparent concrete
material, which can allow 80% light through and only
30% of weight of common concrete. It is worth
mentioning that Italian Pavilion in Shanghai Expo 2010
shows a kind of transparent concrete developed by
mixing glass into concrete in 2010. While the transparent
concrete mainly focuses on transparency and its objective
of application pertains to green technology and artistic
finish. Therefore it is imperative to develop a new
functional material to satisfy the structure in terms of
safety monitoring (such as damage detection, fire
warning), environmental protection and energy saving
and artistic modeling. Transparent or translucent concrete
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Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013
small size of the fibres, they blend into concrete
becoming a component of the material like small pieces
of aggregate. In this manner, the result is not mixed
material like glass in concrete but a new material, which
is homogeneous in its inner structure as well as on its
main surfaces. The optical fibres lead light by points
between the two sides of the blocks. Because of their
parallel position, the light-information on the brighter
side of such a wall appears unchanged on the darker side.
The most interesting form of this phenomenon is
probably the sharp display of shadows on the opposing
side of the wall. Moreover, the colour of the light also
Fig 1: Types of Fibre
remains the same.
Source: Simon Kwan, Principles of Optical Fibers,
San Jose State University, 2002 Since the single-mode
V. MANUFACTURING PROCESS
fibers propagate light in one clearly defined path,
The manufacturing process of transparent concrete is
intermodal dispersion effects is not present, allowing the
almost same as regular concrete. Only optical fibres are
fiber to operate at larger bandwidths than a multimode
spread throughout the aggregate and cement mix. Small
fiber. On the other hand, multimode fibers have large
layers of the concrete are poured on top of each other and
intermodal dispersion effects due to the many light modes
infused with the fibers and are then connected. Thousands
of propagations it handles at one time.
of strands of optical fibers are cast into concrete to
transmit light, either natural or artificial.LightIII. PRINCIPLE
transmitting concrete is produced by adding 4% to 5%
optical fibers by volume into the concrete mixture. The
Transparent concrete or translucent concrete is work
concrete mixture is made from fine materials only it does
Based on Nano-Optics. Optical fibres passes as much
not contain coarse aggregate. Thickness of the optical
light when tiny slits are placed directly on top of each
fibers can be varied between 2 m and 2 mm to suit the
other as when they are staggered. Principal can carry
particular requirements of light transmission.Automatic
because optical fibers in the concrete act like the slits and
production processes use woven fibres fabric instead of
carry the light across throughout the concrete.
single filaments. Fabric and concrete are alternately
inserted into molds at intervals of approximately 2 mm to
5 mm.Smaller or thinner layers allow an increased
amount of light to pass through the concrete. Following
casting, the material is cut into panels or blocks of the
specified thickness and the surface is then typically
polished, resulting in finishes ranging from semi-gloss to
high-gloss.
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Volume 2, Issue 8, February 2013
Source: www.impactlightinginc.com
D. Artsy Reception Desk
If you really want to create a look that stands out, you
should opt for this artsy and vogue reception desk where
light up in the front and the sides.
E. A Lighting fixture and Conversational Piece
The transparent concrete cube is, without a doubt, a
great conversation piece. The new cube line consists of
four identical pieces of concrete and, due to its special
geometry; the pieces form a stable structure without
fixing them together.
Source: www.litracon.hu
It can be also applicable at:
Source: www.impactlightinginc.com
B. Watch Your Pavement Shine at Sunset
This concrete can be used as flooring a passable
surface illuminated from below. During the day it looks
like typical concrete pavement but at sunset the paving
blocks begin to shine and in different colors.
C. Get Creative with Design
The building units are versatile and can be used in
many areas of design. Two successful designs using the
light transmitting concrete were a jewel and a concrete
bench. You can also create a logo with colorful figures,
inscriptions, and pictures and can used for beautification
purpose.
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REFERENCES
VIII. CONCLUSION
A novel architectural material called transparent
concrete can be developed by adding optical fibre or large
diameter glass fibre in the concrete mixture. The
transparent concrete has good light guiding property and
the ratio of optical fibre volume to concrete is proportion
to transmission. The transparent concrete not looses the
strength parameter when compared to regular concrete
and also it has very vital property for the aesthetical point
of view. It can be used for the best architectural
appearance of the building. Also used where the light
cannot reach with appropriate intensity. This new kind of
building materialcan integrate the concept of green
energy saving with the usage self-sensing properties of
functional materials.
[10] seminarprojects.com/s/transparent-concrete-ppt
[11] byen.wikipedia.org/wiki/LiTraCon
[12] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber
[13] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translucent_concrete
[14] www.archicentral.com/litracon-transparent-concrete-4379/
[15] www.engineer.tamuk.edu/.../Translucent%20Concrete_Vict
oria_Baile
[16] www.foundationsakc.org/potential
[17] www.impactlightinginc.com
[18] www.litracon.hu/
[19] http://www.magtudin.org/Translucent%20concrete.htm
IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Authors thankfully acknowledge to Dr.C.L.Patel,
Chairman, Charutar Vidya Mandal, Er.V.M.Patel, Hon.Jt.
Secretary, Charutar Vidya Mandal, Dr. F.S.Umrigar,
Principal, B.V.M. Engineering College, Dr.A.K.Verma,
Head & Professor, Structural Engineering Department,
B.V.M. Engineering College, Prof. J.J.Bhavsar, Civil
Engineering Department, B.V.M Engineering College,
[20] http://www.nbmcw.com/articles/concrete/17991transparent-concrete-litracon.html
[21] www.thesurfacegallery.com/product/litracon/
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AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY
BhavinKantilalKashiyani was born in 1989 in
Jayva village of Jamnagar district, Gujarat. He
has received his Bachelor of Engineering degree
in Civil Engineering from the Faculty of
Technology, Dharmsinh Desai University,
Nadiad in 2011. At present he is Final year student of Master`s Degree
in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla Vishwakarma
Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat Technological University. He has published
papers in international journals.
Varsha Raina was born in 1990 in Bareilly, Uttar
Pradesh. She has received her Bachelor of
Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the
Faculty of Technology, Maharaja Sayajirao
University, Baroda in 2012. She is currently first
year student of Master`s Degree in Construction Engineering and
Management from Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya, Gujarat
Technological University.
Prof. Jayeshkumar R. Pitroda was born in 1977 in
Vadodara City. He received his Bachelor of
Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the
Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel
University in 2000. In 2009 he received his Master's
Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Birla
Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel University. He joined Birla
Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering College as a faculty where he
is Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Department with a total
experience of 12 years in field of Research, Designing and education.
He is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering & Management) Thesis
work in field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. He has published
papers in National Conferences and International Journals.
Dr.Bhavnaben K. Shah was born in 1954 in
Ahmedabad City. She received her Bachelor of
Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from the
Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya, Sardar Patel
University in 1977. In 1988she received her Master's Degree in
Structural Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda.
She joined Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya Engineering College as a
faculty where she is Associate Professor of Structural Engineering
Department with a total experience of 36 years in field of Research in
concrete by using industrial waste and its byproducts and education. She
is guiding M.E. (Construction Engineering & Management) Thesis work
in field of Civil/ Construction Engineering. She has published papers in
National/International Conferences and Journals.
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