ALTERNATIVE BUILDING

MATERIALS
 Basic Human Needs

 FOOD
 CLOTHING

SHELTER
 TRANSPORTATION
COMMUNICATION
NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIALS

CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN DEMAND OF BUILDING

MATERIALS.
DEPLITION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
AVAILABILITY OF CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS.
POLLUTIONS DUE TO PROCESS INVOLVED IN
EXTRACTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT.
ADVANTAGES
MINIMUM WASTE
COST EFFECTIVE
SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF
RESOURCES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
SUSTAINABILITY PYRAMID

1. Prevention
2. Minimization
Most
3. Reuse 1 favored
2 option
4. Recycle
3
5. Energy
4
recovery 5
6. Disposal 6 Least
favored
option
Sustainability Diagram
Sustainability was formally defined by the UN as development that
“meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs”.
 IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE SELECTING
ALTERNATIVES

• Social acceptability
• Cost of affordable house/housing
• Housing/house
• Technological inputs
• Sustainability
• Product development and dissemination process
But..

We cannot compromise on

•Strength
•Durability
•Economy
NATURAL BUILDING MATERIALS
GRANITE AS COARSE AGGREGATES
RIVER SAND AS FINE AGGREGATES
CEMENT
BRICKS FOR WALLS
STEEL FOR REINFORCEMENT
LIST OF ALTERNATIVE BUILDING
MATERIALS
ALTERNATIVES OF COARSE
AGGREGATES
1. E-WASTE
 Electronic waste, abbreviated as e-waste is a non-biodegradable waste.
 It consists of discarded old computers, TVs, refrigerators, radios – basically any electrical
or electronic appliance that has reached its end of life.
 Traditional landfill or stockpile method is not an environmental friendly method.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

• Recycling E waste saves the Earth.

• Recycling E waste conserves energy and natural
resources.
• Recycled E waste aggregates minimizes waste
products placed in landfills.
• Recycling waste will produce pollutants, including
chemical stews after breaking down the waste
materials.
• Recycling waste can create more environmental
problems, if not done right.
• Recycling waste is not always cost-efficient
2.PLASTIC WASTE

 As per the study conducted by central pollution board in major cities of

India, it has been observed that around 4059tonnes/day of plastic
waste generated everyday.
 It consists of different types of plastic wastes which we use in our day
today life.
 Plastic takes over 450 year to decompose.
 It can be used both as fine and coarse aggregate replacement.
 Specific gravity vary between 0.9-1.3.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

• Recycling plastic waste saves the Earth.

• Recycling plastic waste conserves energy and natural
resources.
• Recycled plastic waste aggregates minimizes waste
products placed in landfills.
• Recycling waste will produce pollutants, including
chemical stews after breaking down the waste materials.
• Recycling waste can create more environmental
problems, if not done right.
• Recycling waste is not always cost-efficient
3.Coconut shell

 It is an agricultural biodegradable waste found in most of tropical countries

especially in Asia.
 India manufactures 15,730 million nuts annually, which is next to Indonesia
with 16,498 million.
 Coconut shells dumped improperly to the environment provide breeding
places for disease vectors such as rats and mosquitoes.
 It is a light-weight material which is becoming much popular nowadays
because of its easy handling and low dead loads.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

• Conservation of natural resources can be done

• Utilization of coconut shell as coarse aggregates
reduces the waste produced through coconuts.
• Coconut shell as an alternative is weak in strength
• Strength reduces by increasing the percentage of
replacement of coconut shell.
• Physical properties of coconut shell doesn't match to
that of natural coarse aggregates
4.CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE
• We can observe the growing tendency of usage of recycled
concrete aggregate (RCA). Changes in waste materials
management rules will result in necessity of more common
reutilization of materials from demolished concrete structures.
• The concrete industry alone uses 20 billion tons of aggregates, 1.5
billion tons of cement and 800 million tons of water
Advantages and disadvantages
 Reduce the amount of virgin aggregates to be created ,
hence less evacuation of natural resources.
 While being crushed into smaller particles a large amount of
CO2 is absorbed.
 Cost saving
 Downgrading of quality of concrete
 Increasing water absorption capacity ranging from 3 to 9%
 Reduces workability of concrete
 Less durability compared to natural aggregate
ALTERNATIVES FOR FINE
AGGREGATES
1.MANUFACTURED SAND

 M-SAND IS BETTER SUBSTITUTE FOR RIVER SAND AND CAN REPLACE 100% OF
NATURAL SAND.
 ITS NOT ONLY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE ,BUT IS SUPERIOR IN ITS PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES SUCH AS GRADING OF AGGREGATES, EXCESSIVE SILT AND
ORGANIC IMPURITIES FOUND IN RIVER SAND.
 COST EFFECTIVE MATERIAL.
2.Bottom ash

Bottom ash is part of the non-combustible residue

of combustion in a furnace or incinerator. In an
industrial context, it usually refers to coal
combustion and comprises traces of combustibles
embedded in forming clinkers and sticking to hot
side walls of a coal-burning furnace during its
operation.
 India is currently producing in excess of 100 million tones of coal
ash. Out of the total ash produced in any thermal power plant,
approximately 15 –20 per cent is bottom ash and the rest is fly ash.
 Fly ash has found many takers but bottom ash still continues to
pollute the environment with no safe disposal mechanism on offer.
Advantages and disadvantages

 It is highly economical
 Environmental friendly
 Smaller particles of bottom ash densifies concrete
 Lesser shrinkage of concrete
 The quality of bottom ash can affect the quality and strength
of concrete
 Poor quality of bottom ash can increase the permeability and
cause damage to building
3.COPPER SLAG

 Copper slag is a by-product of copper extraction by smelting.

During smelting, impurities become slag which floats on the molten
metal. Slag that is quenched in water produces angular granules
which are disposed of as waste .
 Presently, worldwide, about 33 million tones of copper slag is generated
annually with India contributing 6-6.5 million tones.
 Khalifa S Al Jabri of Oman in his findings published in the internationally
referred journals such as Cement and Concrete Composites and
Construction and Building Materials in 2006 recommends that 50 per cent
copper slag can be used as replacement of sand in order to obtain concrete
with good strength and durability requirements.
 Back in India, a study carried out by the Central Road Research Institute
(CRRI) has also shown that copper slag can be used as a partial replacement
for sand as fine aggregate in concrete up to 40 per cent in pavement grade
concrete without any loss of cohesiveness and the compressive
 And flexural strength of such concretes is about 20 per cent higher than that
of conventional cement concrete of the same grade.
 One of the primary advantages to copper slag is the low risk it poses
to health and the environment. Silica sand, which represents the
most popular blasting medium and concrete fine It may also
contribute to pollution and other environmental concerns.
 Copper slag also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it an
effective option in concrete, or as a fill material under the roadway.
When added to concrete, it makes the paved surface less porous,
which minimizes problems with moisture and freezing. It also
makes concrete more fire resistant, and helps to slow the spread of
heat and flames.
4.CRUMBBED RUBBER
 CRUMB RUBBER IS MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM TYRES OF VEHICLES.
 INCREASE IN AUTOMOBILES INCREASES CONSUMPTION OF TYRES ,
DECOMPOSING OF THESE MATERIAL ARE HARDER.
 IT IS MADE BY SHREDDING PROCESS OF USED TYRES.
 SOME PERCENTAGE CAN BE REPLACED FOR FINE AGGREGATES.
 CRUMB RUBBER IS ADDED TO ASPHALT IS CALLED CRMA ( CRUMB RUBBER
MODIFIED ASPHALT.
• ADVANTAGE
– HELPS IN NOISE REDUCTION
– REDUCES SKID
Advantages and disadvantages

 Higher resistance to deformation at increased road

temperature.
 Improved adhesion and bonding when used with
bitumen.
 Less thermal sensitivity, cracks prevention
 Requires proper proportioning and lab test which may
increases the budget of project
 Concrete which is partially replaced may not have
longer life span as estimated by standard IS code
ALTERNATIVE FOR CEMENT
Pozzolanas
Pozzolona is a finely divided siliceous or siliceous and aluminous
material that reacts chemically with slaked lime at ordinary
temperature and in the presence of moisture to form a strong slow-
hardening cement.

• Fly ash
• Silica fume
• Rice Husk Ash
• Metakaoline
• Ground Granulated Blast furnace Slag (GGBFS/GGBS)
ALTERNATIVES FOR CEMENT
1.FLY ASH
 Fly ash is a fine powder which is a byproduct from burning
pulverized coal in electric generation power plants. Fly ash is a
pozzolanic material, a substance containing aluminous and
siliceous material that forms cement in the presence of water. When
mixed with lime and water it forms a compound similar to Portland
cement. Specific Gravity varies between 1.9 to 2.9
 TYPES OF FLY ASH

Low-lime fly ash (CaO < 10% )

Exhibit Pozzolanic properties produces cementitious
properties with the help of an activator (cement or
lime).
High-lime fly ash (CaO > 10% )
Exhibit Cementitious properties itself.
Chemical Composition

Major constituents of most fly ashes are

SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 ,CaO and Loss on
Ignition (LOI).

Other elements are MgO, Na2O, K2O, SO3,

MnO, TiO2.
Advantages and disadvantages
 Cold weather resistance.
 Higher strength gains, depending on its use
 Can substitute for Portland cement.
 Considered a non-shrink material.
 Produces denser concrete and a smoother surface with sharper
detail.
 Great workability.
 Reduces crack problems, permeability and bleeding.
 The quality of fly ash can affect the quality and strength of
concrete
 Poor quality of fly ash can increase the permeability and cause
damage to building
2. Silica Fume
 Very fine noncrystalline silica produced in electric arc
furnaces as a byproduct of the production of elemental
silicon or alloys containing silicon; also known as
condensed silica fume or microsilica.
 Unlike other By-products like Fly Ash, Silica fume from a
single source has little or no variation in chemical
composition from one day to another .

Available in both colours

Premium -- White Standard -- Grey

PHYSICAL CHARACTERSTICS
Specific Gravity :- 2.2

Specific surface area :- 20,000Sq.meters /Kg

Particle size :- < 1 micron with Avg. Diameter of 0.1 micron

Particle Spherical in shape.

 Amorphous in nature.
Properties of Fresh Concrete using Silica fume
Reduced Workability

Water demand increases in proportion to Silica fume added.

Water demand is 1% for every 1%replacement of cement.

Lower Slump & more cohesive mix.

 Comparison of Chemical and Physical
Characteristics -- Silica Fume, Fly Ash and
Cement
Silica Fume Fly Ash Cement

 SiO2 Content 85- 97 35 - 48 20 -25

 Surface Area m2/kg 17,000 - 30,000 400 - 700 300 - 500

 Pozzolanic Activity
(with cement, %) 120 - 210 85 - 110 n/a
3.GGBS(GROUND GRANULATED BLAST
FURNACE SLAG)
 GGBS is obtained by quenching molten iron slag (a by-product of
iron and steel-making) from a blast furnace in water or steam, to
produce a glassy, granular product that is then dried and ground into
a fine powder
Advantages and disadvantages
 Increased sulfate resistance
 Increased alkali silica reaction resistance
 Decreased water demand
 Decreased permeability
 Increased long-term strength
 Less heat generated during hydration
 GGBS can be used as a portland cement replacement ranging from
35%-70% by mass
 Low initial strength
 High dry shrinkage
4. Metakaolin
 Metakaolin is a pozzolon,it is produced when china clay, the mineral kaolin
is heated.
 Calcined kaolinite clay at a temperature of 650 - 700 C.
 Kaolinite is hydrous aluminium silicate and can be chemically represented
by Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O.
 Reacts with lime to produce calcium silicates and calcium aluminate
hydrates.
 When used to replace cement at 5-10% by weight, concrete produced
more cohesive and less bleeding seen.
 It is an admixture for high strength concrete
 5.Rice husk ash

 Obtained from burning outer protective of rice husk.

 It consists of SiO2 with high specific surface area and
high pozzolonic activity.
 Its chemical and physical property is same as that of
silica fume.
ALTERNATIVES TO WALLING MATERIALS
WALLS

Walls have two main impacts on a building's

sustainability:
• they are the biggest component of a building and
generally have the most impact environmentally;
• most heat ingress/egress in a house is through the walls.

The materials, their embodied energy, U values and

transportation requirements are very important to the
sustainability of the overall building.
WALLING MATERIALS

• Building blocks
• alternatives to clay bricks
• stabilized mud blocks,
• hollow and solid concrete blocks,
• fly ash bricks,
• Aerated Autocalved Concrete (AAC)
blocks etc
1.CLAY BRICKS

 Clay Bricks Reusable if used with lime mortar

 Durable
 Large Reserves
 High Embodied Energy
 High Output of CO2
 The firing of bricks can produce a number of pollutants
including
2.Stabilized Mud Blocks
 simple, cost effective, environmental friendly technology
developed by Centre for Science and Technology, IISc,
Bangalore.
 utilizes local materials and reduced energy consumption
and thus, reduces the cost
Advantages
 Energy efficient- 70% savings when compared to burnt bricks
 Economical (20-40% when compared to brick masonry).
 Plastering of walls can be eliminated
 Highly decentralized production
 Better block finish
 Aesthetically pleasing
 Lower amount of mortar required for wall construction
SMB houses
 3.CONCRETE BLOCKS

 Durable
 Reusable, particularly where lime mortars have been used
 High thermal mass
 High strength Products available with recycled aggregate
 Concrete blocks are expensive
 Concrete may not offer pleasant aesthetics.

PRECAST HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCKS:

are manufactured using lean cement concrete mixes and extruded
through block making machines of egg laying or static type need lesser
cement mortar and enable speedy construction as compared to brick
masonry. the cavity in the blocks provide better 1herma! protection and
also do not need external or internal plastering. These can be used for
walling block or as roofing blocks along with inverted precast tee beams.
 4.AERATED CONCRETE BLOCKS
 Very light weight concrete blocks (500 kg/m3), 1/4th weight of normal
bricks/blocks.
 Has numerous advantages especially for high rise buildings,
 Reduction in dead weight.
 Saving in steel / concrete (12.4% of Steel and Concrete Combined)
 Increase in floor area due to reduction in size of columns.
 Better Thermal /Sound Insulation.
 Easy to transport on upper floors and handle.
 Time saving in construction.
 Higher unit cost
 Availability of material is less
ADVANTAGES

 Moderate thermal mass Uses industrial waste (PFA) as a prime constituent.

Very good insulating properties.
 Based on volume, aerated blocks contain around 25% less embodied
energy than other concrete blocks
 Good workability Lighter weight saves energy in transportation
 Good sound absorption properties
 Reusable if dismantled carefully, particularly if lime mortar has been used.
RAT -TRAP BOND: is an alternate brick bonding system for English and Flemish
bond. This is economical, strong and aesthetic. 25% of the total number of
bricks and 40% of motor the cost of the wall can be saved by using RAT -TRAP
BOND. It is simple to build and has better insulation properties .
ALTERNATIVES TO STEEL
REINFORCEMENT
1.FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE

In today’s concrete industry, fibers can be broadly grouped into two categories:
 Steel
 Synthetic.
Steel fibers are used in very specific applications are not typically used in common
concrete slabs, pavements, or flatwork. Steel fibers are added to concrete where a
high impact resistance is essential
Synthetic fibers are made from polypropylene, nylon or glass fibers. Polypropylene fibers
are light weight and tend to be fairly buoyant meaning they can collect more at the
surface of the slab.
BENEFITS OF FIBERS IN CONCRETE
 Increased impact and shatter resistance.
 Increased abrasion resistance.
 Lower permeability.
 Provides toughness & post crack integrity.
 Higher cost
 Proportioning exact amount of fibres in the batch of concrete is difficult.
TYPES OF FIBERS
• Polypropylene fiber

• Steel fiber
• Glass fiber
• HDPE fiber
• Carbon Fiber
• Waste Plastic Fiber
 BASALT FIBER REINFORCEMENT

• Continuous basalt fiber (CBF) developed in 1923, CBF

is made from the dense and abrasion-resistant igneous rock.
• CBF exhibits 2.5 times the strength-to-weight ratio of
alloyed steel and 1.5 times that of glass fiber.
• Most importantly, it does not corrode like metal and, unlike
glass fiber, it is not subject to deterioration from acids. CBF
is also inherently fire-resistant and can be used with various
composites.
• When used in precast architectural cladding, basalt
fibers not only eliminates the need for rebar but also
significantly reduces panel thickness. And even it can be
used as rebar.
 Advantages and disadvantages

• Much lighter than steel, 89% percent in fact! One man can easily lift a 100
meter / 328 foot coil of 10 mm basalt rebar.
• Basalt rebar is naturally resistant to alkali, rust and acids. Moisture
penetration from concrete does not spall. Needs no special coating like
fiberglass rods.
• Basalt rebar has the same thermal coefficient expansion as concrete!
• Basalt rebar is easily cut to length with regular tools.
• Basalt rebar does not conduct electricity or induce fields when exposed to RF
energy, great for MRI or data buildings.
• Basalt rebar is perfect for Marine environments and Chemical plants where
corrosion is a continuous concern.
3.ENGINEERED BAMBOO

 Engineered bamboo is also being explored as a rebar alternative.

Early tests of thin bamboo specimens in concrete began at MIT in
1914.
 Despite bamboo’s high tensile strength, it is susceptible to decay
from moisture, insects, and fungus, and dramatic shrinking and
swelling were fundamental material drawbacks in 1950.
 In recent years at the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) in Singapore,
based this time on the use of woven-strand bamboo (WSB)—a
composite material developed in southern China that resists
moisture absorption, swelling, and decay from bacteria and fungi.
4.FERROCEMENT
 What is Ferrocement?
 Ferrocement is a construction material consisting of wire
meshes and cement mortar. Applications of ferrocement in
construction is vast due to the low self weight, lack of skilled
workers, no need of framework etc.
Properties of Ferrocement

 Highly versatile form of reinforced concrete.

 It’s a type of thin reinforced concrete construction, in
which large amount of small diameter wire meshes
uniformly throughout the cross section.
 Mesh may be metal or suitable material.
 Instead of concrete Portland cement mortar is used.
 Strength depends on two factors quality of
sand/cement mortar mix and quantity of reinforcing
materials used.
Advantages and disadvantages
 Basic raw materials are readily available in most countries.
 Fabricated into any desired shape.
 Low labour skill required.
 Ease of construction, low weight and long lifetime.
 Low construction material cost.
 Better resistance against earthquake.
 Needs constant curing for a period of 7 days to avoid any shrinkage cracks.
 Corrosion occurs when it is subjected to environment
ALTERNATIVE FOR WOOD
Wood composites
 As the name suggests, composite materials combine wood with recycled
plastics or other components. As compared to lumber, composites are a
more sustainable way to use trees.
 They require virtually no finishing, staining or maintenance, and are very
durable.

ALUMINIUM
 • More that 3000 commercialized applications.
 • 35 percent aluminum produced is used in
 construction.
 • Non Corrosive.
 • High durability and low maintenance.
 • Can be alloyed.
 • Ductile and malleable.
 • Aesthetically attractive.
ALUMINIUM FORMWORK AND SHUTTERING
THANK YOU