CONTEMPORARY BUILDING MATERIALS

AR8007_Sem07_2021-22

Unit 1 – Introduction

Prepared by Ar. Srinath Venkatesh, Asst. Professor, McGAN’S Ooty School of Architecture
 Ever seen a machine printing
buildings?

Ever heard of the lightest material

on earth which has low thermal
conductivity than anyother material in the
world?

Ever heard of a concrete that

absorbs water?

Ever heard of a solar glass

Ever heard of a concrete that conducting Electricity?
transmits light?
What is exactly
Ultra Performance ???
Building Materials
ULTRA OR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS
Sustainable – Utilisation of locally available materials; reusability;
The rising need for better construction materials, researches environment friendly
and advancement in technologies have allowed us to develop
our construction materials a way better performing than
yesterday. Such building materials are qualified to be highly Cost Effective – Availability and manufacturing of the material at
performing once they satisfy the criterias of a High Performance affordable cost
Building as defined by the WBDG (Whole Building Design
guide).
Accessible – Readily available in local market without involving
high transportation cost

Productive – The material shall perform efficient and effective

Historic – Production of such material shall act as an inspiration for

others to implement in their buildings

Aesthetic – When it is aesthetically convincing

Functional – Satifying the users in all aspects

8 pillars of high-performance building
underpinning Whole Building Design
Safe/Secure – Resistant to hazards like Fire and natural disasters
TIMELINE OF ADVANCEMENT IN BUILDING MATERIAL INNOVATIONS

Stone age – Utilisation of stones; carving of caves with tools; tree branches reinforced within building envelopes made of
clay (Wattle daub construction)

River valley civilisations – Produced sun dried bricks made from locally available materials like clay and staws found
along river and valleys, utilised for building homes

Egyptian Era – Evolution of Engineered structures; marked the utilisation of limestones as a building material; Intricate
carving of interiors and exteriors with the discovery of specialised tools

Greek Era – Structural design were given importance; Mechanical equipments utilised for lifting and erecting of stones;
utilisation of Wood as a material for beams and roof structures

Roman Era – Understood the value of arches and utilised them for long span structures and aqueducts; colored glasses
in interiors; produced the first form of concrete with pozzolona and lime. Example, Pantheon with a concrete dome
spanning 142ft and 1.5m thick.

Age of Industrialisation – Smelting and puddling process facilitated mass production of Iron based building materials like
tubular columns, beams, trusses, rivets; Iron utilised for construction of bridges, monuments and industrial machineries;
Brick were mass produced with mechanical extrusion methods that reduced its cost; Glass discovery and innovative
techniques to club them with iron structures. Example, The Crystal palace.

Joseph moniers’s invention of concrete with steel reinforcement for building structures that can take heavy loads. Also
paved way for high rise buildings.
Modern Era – 20th century tall buildings that utilised vertical trusses to sustain wind loads like
The Manhattan building; uniform practice for high rise building construction came into picture

21st century – Marks the era of High Performance building materials;Utilisation of

technological innovations in building construction; Focusing on Environment, Resource
reutilisation, Economy, Efficiency, Workability and various other aspects; R&Ds made for
optimisation of energy consumption by buildings for daily operations
Why do we need
Ultra Performance ???
Building Materials
NEED FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

Conventional construction
and material
manufacturing practices
(2020 Global Status Report
For Buildings And Construction
Report, UNEP)

The buildings and construction industry accounts for 35% of global total energy consumption
among the others. On the other side, they are also responsible for co2 emissions either directly
(on usage of oil, gas, fuel) and Indirectly (on usage of Electricity which are produced by burning
coal and commercial heat).
NEED FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

The construction waste market includes waste from demolished structures, renovations in the real estate sector, and
construction and repair of roads, flyovers, and bridges. According to a report by the World Bank in 2012, globally,
Rising Construction and cities generate 1.3 billion tons of solid waste every year. This volume is expected to increase up to 2.2 billion tons
every year by 2025. Building material accounts for half of the solid waste generated every year worldwide.
Demolition wastes
(Global scenario)

Generation of Construction
and Demolition wastes
expected to double from 1.3
billion to 2.2 billion in 2025

Rising Construction and A report on India’s C&D wastes, prepared by Centre for Science and Environment says, that “India manages to
Demolition wastes recover and recycle only about 1 per cent of its construction and demolition (C&D) waste”. The Analysis also
(Indian scenario) conveys,

Service Gap

Official estimates say Country has a recycling capacity

India generates 150 for only about 6,500 tonnes per
million tonnes of C&D day -- just 1.3 per cent of the total
waste annually C&D waste generated
NEED FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

Over utilisation of Analysis of the Construction Value Chains

natural resources for report by One planet Says,
manufacturing building
Non-metallic minerals and metals are the
materials main natural resources used in the
construction sector (IRP, 2019). On a
global scale, the construction sector uses
about 65% of non-metallic minerals, 15%
of ferrous metals and 3% of non-ferrous
metals (OECD, 2018b).

Non-metallic minerals are mostly used for

buildings and in construction these
include sand, gravel and limestone. Sand
and gravel are mined worldwide and
account for the largest volume of solid
material extracted globally: about 40-50
billion metric tons per year (IRP, 2019), of
which 40.8% made by gravel and 31.1% by
sand in 2010 (IRP, 2016).
NEED FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

For building various For reutilising building For optimizing the utilization of For experiencing a much
components of a building materials for various purposes natural resources for reduced energy consumption by
at less timeframe, thereby rather than becoming wastes manufacturing of building buildings, through adoption of
minimizing the labour cost building up in landfill sites materials, through consumption high performing thermal
involved of reusable wastes insulation and HVAC systems

For enabling high performance of For reducing fossil fuels and other For providing additional strength to
structural components that could energies consumed for materials that could withstand building
withstand natural calamities, manufacturing, thereby minimizing fires and reduces the quantity consumed
climatic and weather conditions the cost of the material for building them
 How
Ultra Performance are made ???
Building Materials

Resins Plastics/ Fibres Wood

Polymers

undergoing thermoset process undergoing thermoplastic process

What exactly the COMPOSITES are???

COMPOSITES AND THEIR TYPOLOGY

Composites – They are the main element of composition of building material for enhancing performance, which are either reinforced or
mixed together with the raw materials required for a producing any building material. They are basically done for altering the chemical or
physical properties of a building material.

Composites typology –

Resins – Transparent fluids like Epoxy that

solidifies on cooling under room temperature

Polymers – Made of recycled/usual plastic

granules

Fibres - Made of strings of a material like

glass (inorganic), stables (organic) and so on

Wood
Thermoset – The composite under heat when mixed with other raw materials of building material, changes from the state of fluid to solid and cannot be
reversible due to development of a strong chemical bonding. This product is highly heat resistant and strong.

Thermoplastic – The composite under heat when mixed with other raw materials of building material shall have the capability to be moulded into desirable
forms. Thus, on cooling becomes a solid material. Here the material can be reversed as they do not have any chemical bonding as seen in the case of
Thermoset. The strength of the materials is based on the type of composite used,

- If organic/natural fibres like wood, the material can posses only adequate strength and weakens when exposed to moisture and uv light.
- If inorganic like fibreglass, the material experiences high durability compared to materials produced with organic composites.

Nano material and Nano composites

Micro particles understood as Nano material at the range of 1 to 100 nm and which can be nanopowders, nanowires, nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocrystals,
nanopores, nanofilms, nanomembranes, nanofibers, etc.,

Some of the Nano materials used in building industry will include, graphene, fullerene, nano-silica, nano-titanium oxide, nano-alumina, carbon nanotubes,
etc.,

With numberless applications that can solve problems related to the correlated variables density-strength, durability-esthetics, in addition to repellence to
dampness, dust and bacteria; to improve systems of energy storage, insulating glass, water purification, electric conductors and semiconductors and other
numerous applications in materials and components mainly utilized in building structures such as roofs, mezzanines, walls, columns and other parts such as
latticework, windowpanes, finishes and facades are of great interest for architects, engineers, builders and realestate developers to include them in the
design and construction of their projects.
Applications of
Ultra Performance
Building Materials
NEWER APPLICATION AND ALTERNATES TO CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS
High Performance Concrete (HPC) structures, first made in 1927 in Denver by
engineers for building a concrete tunnel that needed a high strength than conventional
concrete and need to set within 24 hours of time.

In 1980s, HPC was proven to be successful through researches and was accepted world
wide. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was the first to initiate national program
in 1993 to implement HPC in bridges.

HPC was initially defined by three requirements :

• Maximum water-cementitious material ratio of 0.35

• Minimum durability factor of 80%, as determined by ASTM C 666 Method A, and
• Minimum compressive strength of either:
(a) 21 MPa (3000 psi) within 4 hours after placement;
(b) 34 MPa (5000 psi) within 24 hours;
(c) 69 MPa (10,000 psi) within 28 days.

The Constituents of HPC are,

Portland Cement, Silica Fumes, Ground granulated blast furnace slag, Coal,
Superplasticiser and Flyash

So what does conventional concrete provide?

The compressive strength of normal concrete is between 20 and 40 Mpa, whereas, the
strength of high performance concrete is above 40 Mpa; Setting time to attain
adequate strength takes upto 7 days; High water-cement ratio leading to bleeding of
concrete; No actuators such as Superplasticiser for efficient setting of concrete.
NEWER APPLICATION AND ALTERNATES TO CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS

Advanced Concrete Porous Concrete Light transmitting Concrete

These are concretes that use composites and Roadway pavement is a cement-based A Hungarian architect has combined the world’s
additives such as new reinforcements like concrete product that has a porous structure most popular building material with optical fiber to
glass fibres, bio steel and so on for gaining which allows rainwater to pass directly create a new type of concrete that transmits light.
more strength than the conventional through the pavement and into the soil
concrete technology. naturally. A wall made of Light-Transmitting Concrete
allegedly has the strength of traditional concrete but
They posses various advantages that This porosity is achieved without thanks to an embedded array of glass fibers can
include, high thermal and sound insulation, compromising the strength, durability, or display a view of the outside world. Shadows on the
fire resistance, structural strength and so on. integrity of the concrete structure itself. The lighter side will appear with sharp outlines on the
pavement is comprised of a special blend of darker one because of thousands of optical glass
Portland Cement, coarse aggregate rock, fibers form a matrix and run parallel to each other
and water. Once dried, the pavement has a between the two main surfaces of every block.
porous texture that allows water to drain
through it at the rate of 8 to 12 gallons per
minute per square foot.
NEWER APPLICATION AND ALTERNATES TO CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS

Aerogels are a diverse class of ultralow density solids that combine multiple disparate
and extreme materials properties into a single material envelope. Aerogel materials
generally exhibit a high degree of porosity, high specific surface area, and superlative
energy damping (thermal, acoustic, and impact) properties. The name aerogel may be
misleading at first, as aerogels are dry, rigid or elastic foam-like materials—the name
originates from the fact that aerogels are usually derived from wet gels, physically
similar to edible gelatin, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced by a
gas or vacuum in a way that preserves the gel’s sparse solid, porous backbone.

So what does conventional thermal insulations provide?

The glass, considered as a thermal insulation element has R- value of only 0.14/sq.ft which means a very low resistance to heat when compared to R-value of
Aerogels that have 10.3/Sq.ft. Apart from them,

Polyisocyanurate spray foam having Polyurethane rigid panel having R-

Fibreglass batt having R-Value of 3.1
– 4/Sq.ft R-value of 4.3 – 8.3/Sq.ft value of 7 – 8.3/Sq.ft
NEWER APPLICATION AND ALTERNATES TO CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS

A vapour barrier (sometimes referred to as vapour retarder) is

typically a plastic or foil sheet used for damp proofing to prevent
interstitial condensation from forming in various building assemblies
such as walls, roofs, foundations and floors. In a typical commercial
building or home, vapour barriers or vapour diffusion retarders can
improve energy efficiency and comfort, while also preventing problems
from moisture and dampness. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy.)

A vapour barrier is an important component in building construction. Its

purpose is to help prevent water vapour from reaching building walls,
ceilings, attics, crawlspaces or roofs, where it can condense and cause
building materials to rot or grow mould.

Damage from water condensation due to water vapour movement

(called “water vapour drive”) can wreak havoc on even the sturdiest of
built structures, and threaten the effectiveness of insulation. You can
save yourself this costly headache by learning when, how, why and
where to install a vapour barrier in your next project.

So what does conventional Moisture protection materials provide?

Conventionally, DPC (Damp Proof Course) and Water Proof Course might
have the potential to arrest the moisture unless the buildings does not
develop cracks and internal cracks, especially on the cielings.
NEWER APPLICATION AND ALTERNATES TO CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS

Mivan Aluminium formwork. The formwork stays unique from

conventional formwork system in terms of saving adequate time in
stripping and assembling of shuttering in building construction. The
ideas behind is that, the shuttering formwork once made could be lifted
for further without the need of removing them. The principle is that the
whole façade shuttering work can travel vertically from ground to next
further floors without removing them.

The formwork uses Aluminium, as they are strong and lightweight

which makes them withstand the weight of concrete as well as easier for
lifting to floors above.

The formwork is available for any kind of building component that

needs to be casted. Example, stairs, columns, beams and so on.

So what does conventional formwork systems provide?

Conventional formwork system consumes time for removing and

reassembling of shutterings; need to ensure perfections when building
one above the other; formwork components made for stairs can be
reused with assembling again; saves formwork time and reduces labour
cost; the formworks need not be greased for the ease of removing from
concrete structures; since it is made of Aluminium, it can be recycled any
number of times without compromising on the quality.
properties of
Ultra Performance
Building Materials
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

MULTI DIMENSIONAL

Obviously, materials are physically defined by three dimensions But many products and buildings have long been conceived as a collection of flat planes
which define space and function.

One reason for this development is the fact that taking advantage of greater depth allows thin materials to become more structurally stable Another reason is
that materials with Enhanced texture and richness are more visually interesting.

Augmented dimensionality will likely be a growing movement, especially considering the technological trends toward miniaturization systems integration
and pre fabrication.

Ply is a wall panel consisting of a solid wood frame with an undulating

birch veneer of 0 4 mm thick plywood

This new material is so thin that it folds nearly as easily as fabric

The element absorbs sound well

Still in development is a version with built in lighting and panels thin

enough to let light pass through

Panels with an extra backing of sound absorbing material are another

option
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

MULTI DIMENSIONAL

Obviously, materials are physically defined by three dimensions But many products and buildings have long been conceived as a collection of flat planes
which define space and function.

One reason for this development is the fact that taking advantage of greater depth allows thin materials to become more structurally stable Another reason is
that materials with Enhanced texture and richness are more visually interesting.

Augmented dimensionality will likely be a growing movement, especially considering the technological trends toward miniaturization systems integration
and pre fabrication.

Soundwave panel was designed to help control the sound levels in busy
interiors

Made from recyclable moulded polyester fibre the undulating wave form
and the felt like material of the original Soundwave helps reduce noice
levels by absorbing the mid/high frequency range

The material is moulded polyester fibre the same material used in the
vehicle industry to quieten the interiors of tractor cabins and cars
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

REPURPOSED

Repurposed materials may be defined as surrogates, or materials which are used in the place of materials conventionally used in an application.

Repurposed materials provide several benefits, such as replacing precious raw materials with less precious more plentiful ones diverting products from the
waste stream implementing less toxic manufacturing processes and simply defying convention.

As a trend, repurposing is important because it underscores the desire for adaptability in industry, as well as an increasing awareness of our limited resources.

While the performance of repurposed materials is not identical to that of the products they replace, sometimes new and unexpected benefits arise from their
use.

Palm fiberboard
(a building material made of wood or other plant fibres compressed into
boards.)

Malaysia supplies 50 percent of the world s palm oil a raw material in high
demand for the food processing and chemical industries

The fibers have been found to be highly suitable for the manufacture of
fiberboard for the construction and furniture industries

The residual materials are crushed and then pulped into fibrous material in
a thermomechanical process Steam heats the fibers and then the soft raw
material is ground in a refiner. Finally, adhesive is added and the material
is hot pressed to achieve the desired density and final solid form of the
fiberboard
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

REPURPOSED

Repurposed materials may be defined as surrogates, or materials which are used in the place of materials conventionally used in an application.

Repurposed materials provide several benefits, such as replacing precious raw materials with less precious more plentiful ones diverting products from the
waste stream implementing less toxic manufacturing processes and simply defying convention.

As a trend, repurposing is important because it underscores the desire for adaptability in industry, as well as an increasing awareness of our limited resources.

While the performance of repurposed materials is not identical to that of the products they replace, sometimes new and unexpected benefits arise from their
use.

Researchers have developed the fiber free material, REAPOR It is

waterproof, fireproof, and even resistant to acid attack

It is extremely stable and at the same time light in weight, it insulates

against heat and cold and absorbs sound Furthermore, it is extremely
environment friendly

It is made of 90 recycled glass and can itself be recycled in its entirety To

round off its merits it is easy to machine, to saw or to drill

REAPORs basic material is the granular expanded glass Liaver a spherical

and lightweight building material made from recycled glass
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

RECOMBINANT

Recombinant materials consist of two or more different materials which act in accord to create a product that performs greater than the sum of its parts.

Recombinant materials have long proven their performance in the construction industry.

Reinforced concrete which benefits from the compressive strength and fire proof qualities of concrete and the tensile strength of steel, is a classic
recombination.

The success of recombinant materials is based on their reliable integration, which is not always predictable Moreover, recombinant materials are often
comprised of downcycled components which may be difficult if not impossible to re extract.

Technology are paving the nations roads with Plasphalt a proprietary mix
of asphalt and recycled plastic

Though plasphalt costs 10 percent more than the straight alternative, it

lasts 25 percent longer Plus, it diverts 27 percent of all waste from landfill
to highway
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

RECOMBINANT

Recombinant materials consist of two or more different materials which act in accord to create a product that performs greater than the sum of its parts.

Recombinant materials have long proven their performance in the construction industry.

Reinforced concrete which benefits from the compressive strength and fire proof qualities of concrete and the tensile strength of steel, is a classic
recombination.

The success of recombinant materials is based on their reliable integration, which is not always predictable Moreover, recombinant materials are often
comprised of downcycled components which may be difficult if not impossible to re extract.

FLY ASH CONCRETE

Contents 50 fly ash, 50 cement

Use Building walls, foundations Fly ash, produced in abundance by coal

burning power plants, replaces a high volume of cement, which is third on
the top ten list for CO 2 emissions

Problems Fly ash (a mixture of alumina, silica, unburned carbon, and

metallic oxides) is extremely toxic, though it may be that the concrete
immobilizes its impurities
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

INTELLIGENT

Intelligent is a term for materials that are designed to improve their environment and which often take inspiration from biological systems They can act
actively or passively, and they can be high tech or low tech

Many materials in this category indicate a growing focus on the manipulation of the microscopic scale

The varied list of benefits provided by materials featured here includes pollution reduction, water purification, solar radiation control, natural ventilation, and
power generation

An intelligent product may simply be a flexible or modular system which adds value throughout its life cycle

POLLUTION REDUCING CEMENT

A new cement which is based on magnesium carbonate rather than calcium

carbonate, and absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

One ton of concrete made with the cement can absorb about 0.4 tons of
carbon dioxide as it hardens, and tower blocks built with it could become
as important as natural carbon sinks like forests and grasslands

The opportunities to use carbonation processes to sequester carbon from

the air are just huge. It can take conventional cements centuries or even
millennia to absorb as much as eco cements can absorb in just a few
months
PROPERTIES OF ULTRA PERFORMANCE BUILDING MATERIALS

TRANSFORMATIONAL

Transformational products are important because they offer multiple functions where one would be expected, they provide benefits that few might have
imagined, and they simply make us view the world differently

LIVING GLASS :

Created a line of products consisting of layered acrylic panels which

contain a pigmented membrane This membrane actively transforms based
on touch and vibration,enabling one to move and mix colors at will.

This technology is currently available and called Flex Interactive tables

and is being developed in a line of floor tiles.