SMART MATERIAL IN Structure:
DEFINITION :
"Smart materials are reactive materials. Their properties can be evolved by contact with stimuli, such as electric and magnetic areas, stress, moisture and temp. "(BBC UK)
The smart material can of
- Wood
- Metal
- Ceramics
- Polymers
- Metals etc
In construction these kinds of materials are used to achieve the desired strength, they must be economical and prove beneficial to the planet and to the stakeholders. A large number of innovations have emerged in this modern world e. g. self healing concrete, green concrete, carbon neutral cements etc.
The materials, which have been recently developed by two MIT students and Professor Carmen Trudall are eco blac brick and Breathe bricks respectively. The comprehensive analysis of this inventions are talked about below
ECO FRIENDLY BRICKs:
INTRODUCTION :
Brick is mainly considered as a significant element of a building. It is found generally in a rectangular shape with different sizes. They are famous for their strength at low cost. These bricks when created to temperature during their manufacturing. These kilns are mainly handled by coal and diesel resulting in harmful waste impacting both the environment and the folks working in these kilns.
NEED OF FRIENDLY TO THE ENVIRONMENT BRICKS:
Currently the modern world is facing some serious environmental issues, which is leading to global warming. the fuel used for these kilns will be the major contributors to the pollution and the surroundings is exposed right to them. In today's day, the think tanks of the industry and environmentally friendly agencies want to make building more greener and at least carbon neutral. Additionally, recently a Chinese artist made a brick from the pollutants entrapped in the air. This shocked the whole country and then your authorities came into action and started to take the environmental issues seriously.
For the purposes mentioned previously, it's important to use these kinds of bricks to help make the environment more greener.
ECO BLAC BRICK:
The notion of these bricks was first launched by the students of MIT with the aim that how to manufacture bricks without needing kilns.
Fig :teaching an average blac brick
These bricks are mainly made from boiler ash. Boiler ash is an ash made by the burning of various materials, mainly paper, solid wood etc in the factories or somewhere else. Boiler ash is principally dumped in the land, leading to clogging.
The boiler ash is combined with the alkali activation technology. This technology utilizes the boiler ash as an alumino-silicate, fusing it with an alkaline activator solution. When they are merged, the ash dissolves, followed by the construction of the geo-polymer gel, a solid 3D network that provides the bricks durability and strength. This solution reuses professional waste (70% in today's model) somewhat than topsoil, and is low-cost and low energy. By by using a chemical reaction rather than firing, the bricks gain power at ambient temps, not demanding the massive use of coal (approximately 24 million tons yearly) in traditional clay-fired brick production. This technique also produces no emissions, unlike the original kiln technology, which produces skin tightening and (around 76 million plenty CO2/ year), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dark carbon, and particulate subject. (arch daily)
These bricks when put through different test, acquired more durability, exhibited more water level of resistance and had more compressive durability then your normal clay brick.
SALIENT FEATURES:
Some features of these bricks are:
- better for individual health than a typical brick.
- better for the environment.
- better in resource.
- Less CO2 emissions.
- Waste usage.
BREATHE BRICKS:
Breathe bricks are invented by the Carmen Trudell, an associate teacher at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's college of architecture.
Fig :showing a breathe brick
Fig demonstrating Breathe brick section
The Breathe Brick is designed on a concept to form an integral part of a building's regular ventilation system, with a double-layered facade, exterior of the building is constructed of these special bricks, along with a standard internal covering providing insulation. With the mid, the breathe brick's function is cyclone filtration, an idea motivated from modern floor cleaners, which separates out the heavy pollutant debris from mid-air and drops them into a detachable hopper at the base of the wall membrane.
Fig exhibiting : structural gravity and lateral launching system of a breathe brick
The system comprises two key parts: concrete bricks, and a plastic coupler, which both really helps to align bricks and creates a way from the outside in to the brick's hollow centre. The concrete bricks themselves include a faceted surface which really helps to direct airflow in to the system, and a separate cavity for placing steel composition.
The Breathe Brick is capable of doing multiple functions i. e. mechanical and passive air flow systems, as the brick simply transports strained air in to the walls general assembly, this air can then be sent to the building's interior through mechanised equipment or through filtration system vents powered by passive systems such as stack ventilation
In blowing wind tunnel tests, the machine was found more efficient filtering 30% of fine contaminants (such as airborne pollutants) and 100% of coarse contaminants such as particles. As the whole system is relatively inexpensive, the Trudell posits the Breathe Brick in an effort to lower pollution levels in producing countries, where rapid development of industry and less stringent environmental laws often cause problems.
ADVANTAGES OF ECOFRIENDLY BRICKS:
- Cost efficient
- High strength
- Water resistant
- Eco friendly
- Carbon neutral
- Top soil preserved
- Low amount of mortar used
- Less labour affected
- No use of kilns
- No use of fuels
- Helping agriculture
Conclusion:
To conclude, the bricks made of clay has strength but are major contributors to the pollution as on other hand the eco bricks which are made from wastes is useful for the environment as well as the people. With equivalent stent as the ordinary bricks these brisk may take over the near future and has the capacity to replace these bricks in the near future.
REFERENCING
https://www. google. co. uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8
