BIOMATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

B.Arch Dissertation

BY

ANTARA SABLOK

(ROLL NO. 14604)

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

HAMIRPUR(H.P) – 177005, INDIA

April 2018
 BIOMATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree

Of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

By

ANTARA SABLOK

(ROLL NO. 14604)

Under the guidance

Of

AR. SHUBHAM DOGRA

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

HAMIRPUR(H.P) – 177005, INDIA

April 2018
Copyright @ NIT HAMIRPUR (H.P), INDIA, April,2018
 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

HAMIRPUR (H.P)

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that that this dissertation report entitles “BIOMATERIALS IN

CONSTRUCTION” has been submitted by Ms. Antara Sablok (Roll No. 14604) in
the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Bachelor’s degree in
Architecture for the session 2014-2019.

RECOMMENDED BY- EXTERNAL EXAMINER:

ACCEPTED BY-

Dissertation guide

DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHITECTURE Head Of Department

DATE: DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

DATE:
 DISSERTATION REPORT

(2017-18)

BIOMATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

DISSERTATION GUIDE: SUBMITTED BY:

AR. SHUBHAM DOGRA ANTARA SABLOK,14604

 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY

HAMIRPUR (H.P)

CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION

I hereby certify that the work which is presented in the project titled
“BIOMATERIALS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY”, in the partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the DEGREE OF BACHELOR in
ARCHITECTURE and submitted in Department of Architecture, National Institute
of Technology, Hamirpur, in an authentic record of my own work carried out during a
period from January 2018 to April 2018 under the guidance of AR. SHUBHAM
DOGRA, Lecturer, Department of Architecture, National Institute of Technology,
Hamirpur.

The matter presented in this project report has not been submitted by me for the
reward of any other degree of this or any other Institute/University.

ANTARA SABLOK

This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the best
of my knowledge.

Date: AR. SHUBHAM DOGRA

Lecturer

Department of Architecture

NIT Hamirpur

The Project Viva Voce Examination of ANTARA SABLOK has been held
on………………………

Signature of Supervisor(s) Signature of External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

On the very beginning of this report, I might want to broaden my earnest and sincere
commitment towards all personages who have helped me in this undertaking. Without
their dynamic direction, help, collaboration and support, I would not have made
progress in the thesis.

I am exceedingly obliged to my guide, Ar. Shubham Dogra for his direction and
steady supervision and in addition for giving vital data with respect to the undertaking
and furthermore for their help in finishing the task.

I am amazingly grateful and pay my appreciation to my Head Of Department, Dr.

Bhanu Marwaha, Dissertation Coordinator Dr. Aniket Sharma and DUGC Dr.
Puneet Sharma for their significant direction and support in finishing of this
exploration in its by and by.

I stretch out my appreciation to NIT HAMIRPUR(H.P.) for giving me this

opportunity.

I likewise recognize with a profound feeling of respect, my appreciation towards my

folks and individuals from my family, Dr. Parvesh Sablok and Dr. Mrs. Neena
Sablok who have constantly bolstered me ethically and also financially.

I likewise say thanks to Mr. Sahil Garg, Civil Dept. Student for helping me out in
making the material models. I might want to offer my thanks towards Ms. Ishita
Parmar for giving me the enthusiastic help amid the entire venture and bailing me out
in specific regions.

Finally yet not slightest appreciation goes to the greater part of my companions who
specifically or in a roundabout way helped me to finish this exploration report.
 ABSTRACT

With the increase demand of resources and sustainability being the key concept for
every emerging design, attention has shifted from adding external elements or systems
for sustainability to using building materials and techniques to achieve the same
results.

The need is to study the alternative biomaterials or eco-friendly materials to the

existing materials and adequacy of their implication in the building systems. The
study also focuses on using the agro-based by-products for construction materials to
aid in waste management.

During this study, two material prototypes have also been made to learn how to treat
the by-products and mix accordingly to make a structurally stable building
component.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1…………………………………………………………….…………1-2

1.1 INTRODUCTION- Aim, Objective and Scope………………………….…..…..1

1.2 BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………...1
1.3 DEFINING BIOMATERIALS……………………………….………………….2
1.4 ENLISTING BIOMATERIALS………………………………………..………2

CHAPTER 2 MATERIALS………………………………………………….…..3-8

2.1 RICE HUSK ASH…………………………………………………….………..3

2.2 FIBR-CONCRETE……………………………………………..…………..….3
2.3 COCONUT WASTE………………………………………………..….………5
2.4 BAGASSE……………………………………………………………………...6
2.5 FIBRA-CRETO………………………………………………………………...7
2.6 PINE NEEDLES…….………………………………………………………….7

CHAPTER 3 RHA LIME PROTOTYPE HOUSE………………………..…….9-10

CHAPTER 4 FIBRE-CONCRETE ROOFING SHEETS………………………...11-13

CHAPTER 5 MATERIAL PROTOTYPE…………………………………….…14-15

5.1 COIR LONG FIBRE CONCRETE BLOCK………………………………...14

5.2 PINE NEEDLES SHORT FIBRE CONCRETE BLOCK……………………15

CHAPTER 6 REFERENCES………………………………………………………..16
 TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Rice husk .............................. 3

Figure 2 Fibres in concrete ................. 4
Figure 3 Fibres imparting crack resistance 4
Figure 4 Coconut wastes ..................... 5
Figure 5 Coir waste from coconut ...... 5
Figure 6 Coconut coir particle boards . 6
Figure 7 Coconut coir corrugated sheet6
Figure 8 Bagasse: sugarcane waste ..... 6
Figure 9 Bagasse panels ...................... 6
Figure 10 Panels used in interior spaces 7
Figure 11 Wool wood cement panels.. 7
Figure 12 Application of fibra-creto ... 7
Figure 13 Abundant dried pine needles available in campus 8
Figure 14 Plans and Drawings of RHA Lime prototype house 10
Figure 15 FC Roofing sheets ............ 11
Figure 16 Production of FC corrugated sheets 12
Figure 17 Installation of FC roofing . 13
Figure 18 Material composition ........ 14
Figure 19 Before and after formaldehyde treatment of coconut fibres to reduce the
moisture content of fibre and make it alkaline 14
Figure 20 100x100 long coconut fibre concrete block 14
Figure 21 Material composition ........ 15
Figure 22 Before and after formaldehyde treatment of pine needles to reduce the
moisture content of fibre and make it alkaline 15
Figure 23 100x100 pine needles short fibre concrete block 15

0
CHAPTER 1 areas such as construction, interiors
etc. in which they can be
1.1 INTRODUCTION implemented with construction

Aim techniques of the same.

 The study will also see the factors
The aim of this study is to learn about
of sustainability and cost
various biomaterials in the market
effectiveness as applicable to the
which have been discovered and
given material.
st
innovated after 21 century and their
 It will include the case studies of
various applications in the field of
practical implementation of the
architecture and construction industry.
areas.
Objective

The objective of this study is to go 1.2 BACKGROUND

through different types of biomaterials For over many years, we have seen
used in construction and architecture, another accentuation in computerized
analyse their properties, implications in design on methods of creation and
the field, sustainability factor and material-based methodologies. Thus,
practical usage of the materials. creation strategies and material

And also, two material prototypes have frameworks principally not open to

also been made at the end of the draftsmen would now be able to wind

research to learn thoroughly about the up a necessary piece of the outline

construction technique of the same work process.

materials. With the increase demand of resources

Scope and sustainability being the key

concept for every emerging design,
 During this study the focus will be
attention has shifted from adding
on enlisting various types of
external elements or systems for
biomaterials which are present in
sustainability to using building
the market and some materials on
materials and techniques to achieve the
which the research is still going on.
same results.
 The study will include the analysis
of composition of the materials The need is to study the alternative

along with their properties and the biomaterials or eco-friendly materials

1
to the existing materials and adequacy Throughout the history biomaterials
of their implication in the building have been used many times. From the
systems. point of usage of timber to the times
when even materials like coconut
All over world research has been
fibres are used as construction material.
carried out to study different sources
from within the nature to redefine the Though many biomaterials are
materials used in the construction. available in the market, for this study
the list has been narrowed down and
1.3 DEFINING
restricted to following understated
BIOMATERIALS
materials:
Nature has always been a great
 Rice Husk
inspiration in architecture. From bio-
 Fibre-Concrete
mimicry to bio-integration to bio-
 Coconut waste
fabrication in all forms nature has been
 Bagasse
used as a tool for design and materials
 Fibra-creto
in architecture.
 Pine needles
Biomaterials are the materials which
have the origin of natures’ essence in
them and have been modified and
designed in such a way that they are fit
to be introduced in a building system to
ensure its stability and sustainability.

The history of use of biomaterials dates

way back to the times when timber was
used for construction. The application
of these materials are still used as
earlier but improvements have been
done to make their performance much
better in terms of economy and
environment response.

1.4 ENLISTING
BIOMATERIALS
2
CHAPTER 02 2.1.2 PREPARATION OF RICE
HUSK ASH
MATERIALS
Rice husk is collected from the field
2.1 RICE HUSK ASH during the processing stage and all the
other organic matter is removed from
It is an organic waste and a major by-
the collection. It is combusted in an
product of the rice milling process and
incinerator at a temperature of 700oC.
agro-based biomass produces in large
quantities. Mostly found in rice Silica rich ash dark grey to white in

growing countries of East and South- colour depending on the carbon content

East Asia. is produced in the end which has great

pozzolanic properties.
The husk is obtained from the crop
during the farming process before the 2.1.3 USAGE

grains are processed and sold in the Concrete is strong and durable but
market. there is loss in strength in it due to
water absorption and penetration. The
steel reinforcement present gets
corrosive due to ions present in water
and also result in destructive expansion
of concrete.

The solution for this lies in fact that

Figure 1 Rice husk
rice husk ash has 93% silica content
2.1.1 COMPOSITION which contains alkyl group that are
Rice husk ash is made up of 40% water repellent in nature.
cellulose, 20% Silica and 30% Lignin
It is also used as admixture in mortar
group. While the burning of rice husk is
with 30-50% hydrated lime and replace
done to make the ash, care is to be taken
upto 30% cement in concrete.
that there is only 10% carbon in it or else
the ash is not fir for construction purposes. 2.2 FIBRE-CONCRETE
Water absorption range for rice husk is
The composition of fibre-concrete
between 4-16% where as the unit weight is
includes sand, cement, water and
83-125 kg/m3.
fibres.

3
Earlier steel, glass, polypropylene
fibres were used in their production but
their high cost, limited supplies and
large embodied energy has somehow
restricted their production in
developing countries.

The alternative in present scenario is Figure 2 Fibres in concrete

the usage of natural fibres, either

2.2.2 TYPES OF FIBRE
vegetable (cellulose based) or animal
CONCRETE
origin (protein based).
a. Long Fibres: Properly aligned long
Use of natural fibres results in cheap
fibres in concrete structure can
production cost with structure that are
improve the impact resistance and
more satisfactory in terms of thermal,
bending strengths of the structure.
acoustic and aesthetic response than
the conventional methods. b. Short Fibres: A homogeneous
mixture is attained with short cut fibres
2.2.1 ADVANTAGES
randomly distributed within the
Inclusion of natural fibres in concrete mixture imparting crack resistance in
has shown that it improves its tensile all directions evenly.
strength, controls its plastic shrinkage
and dry shrinkage cracking.

Fibre content in concrete is mostly kept

as 1-5% by weight. With the inclusion
of fibres thinner and lighter structures
can be casted which is beneficiary for
the construction purposes.

Figure 3 Fibres imparting crack resistance

2.2.3 DECAY PREVENTION

The decay of natural fibres is due to the

alkaline content present in water used
for setting up and curing. This can be

4
reduced by using high alumina cement
or by adding highly active pozzolana
like rice husk ash.
Adding small beads of wax into the
mortar can also prevent the decay. The
concrete is heated when hardened and
dried out which melts the wax beads
and seals all the pores to reduce the
absorption of water.
2.3 COCONUT WASTE
Figure 4 Coconut wastes
Coconut fibres are widely available in
tropical regions of world
especially Africa, Asia and America.
As agricultural waste products obtained
after the processing of coconut oil.
Earlier these fibres were not used as
construction materials but
dumped as agricultural wastes but
recently this scenario has
changing.
Coconut strands/Coir are the sinewy
material found between the hard, inside
shell and the external layer of a
coconut.
The husks comprises of 15-35cm long
filaments with high elasticity which is
influenced by dampness and utilized as
a part of items, for example, floor mats,
doormats, brushes and beddings.
Coconut fibre has been utilized to
upgrade cement and mortar to enhance
its strength.
most
Figure 5 Coir waste from coconut
2.3.1 APPLICATIONS
Strong particle boards can be produced
with the un-retted husks which are hot
often pressed without any additives.
The un-retted pith, obtained after
been
defibrating mature husk can be hot
pressed and used to make moisture
resistant boards.
With the retted pith, lighter resilient
boards are made.
5
Coconut shell chips with conventional
adhesives make good quality particle
boards.

All these boards can be used for

interior decorating purposes or as
partition walls.

Figure 8 Bagasse: sugarcane waste

It is a dry pulpy material which has

been used as bio-fuel and in
manufacturing of building materials.

Though not used for cement-based

Figure 6 Coconut coir particle boards

products, due to the fact that residual
sugar content may retards the setting of
Portland cement is also used mixed
cement, it is widely used for making
with coir waste to make construction
organic adhesives, particle boards and
blocks and roofing sheets.
fibre boards for interiors, cladding and
partition walls.

Figure 7 Coconut coir corrugated sheet

2.4 BAGASSE

Bagasse is the fibrous remaining matter Figure 9 Bagasse panels

obtained after processing of sugarcane
Bagasse ash is high in silica content
has been done and so is an agro-waste
and can be used as an admixture to
material.
improve the quality of clay bricks by
lowering the firing temperature and is

6
also considered a better option construction cost by 35-40% as
economically and environmentally. compared to conventional construction
techniques.

It is a comfortable housing technique

with good stability, resistance to
earthquake, hurricane, rain and insects.
The climate suitability of this
technique is proven to be good in all
climatic conditions.

The system contains a foundation of

Figure 10 Panels used in interior spaces
2.5 FIBRA-CRETO
10cm thick platform with 7.5cm thick
wood-wool cement boards assembled
with horizontal mortar joints and held
together by wooden formwork. After
walls are assembled, the formwork is
filled with concrete columns for extra
stability.

This basically consists of wool-wool

cement panels that are structured with
reinforced concrete columns and
beams.

Figure 12 Application of fibra-creto

Roof is also made up of wood-wool

cement boards supported on in-situ
casted reinforced concrete beams as
Figure 11 Wool wood cement panels
per the design.
Commonly used for one or two storied
houses, it is said to reduce the 2.6 PINE NEEDLES

7
These are the slender needle-shaped
leaves of a pine tree.

The reasons of using this as a

construction material lies in the fact at
it is a good fibrous material which can
be found in abundance in Himachal
Pradesh.

Even in our campus it is widely

available near the roadsides.

This will not only reduce the cost of

construction but also reduce the
problem of wastage in the area.

Figure 13 Abundant dried pine needles available in

campus

8
CHAPTER 3 The appearance, basic execution and
solidness of house is the same as
RHA LIME PROTOTYPE regular developments, utilizing
HOUSE portland bond as the main cover, yet it
is spared 37% of the expenses and
The first house to be manufactured
aided additionally for the waste
utilizing a vast degree RHA and lime
transfer.
as substitute for concrete, is in
premises of National Building Economically is costed moderate as
Research Institute, Karachi, Pakistan. compared to traditional housing
systems.
Considerable substitution of concrete,
great soundness, gives great protection
against seismic tremor, tropical storm,
rain and creepy crawlies, has great
climatic response, ordinary building
types of gear are required and standard
development range of abilities is
required.

Portland concrete used to balance out

the dirt for establishment (3%), for
packed soil squares (5%), utilized for
plinth, floor and edges.

Basic segments, for example, rooftop,

pillars, lintels, projection sections,
overhead water tanks are additionally
comprised of portland concrete yet
with 30% of the required sum
supplanted by RHA and lime.

The empty pieces and mortar utilized

for stack bearing dividers were made
just with RHA and lime as fastener,
similarly as the outer mortar.

9
Figure 14 Plans and Drawings of RHA Lime
prototype house

10
CHAPTER 4 4.1.1 MATERIALS AND
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
FIBRE-CONCRETE
 Ordinary Portland cement with
ROOFING SHEETS
cement:sand ratio of 1:1.
The very first of these roofing elements  Fibre content as 1% by weight.
were developed to substitute GCI and  Water:cement ratio 0.5-0.65 by
AC sheets. weight.

They are easy to make and install with  Corrugated setting moulds

local equipments and local  Standard workshop tools

craftsmanship. 4.1.2 MOULDING AND CURING

They are exceptionally financially  The accurately proportioned and all

savvy and have great protection against around blended mortar is trowelled
tremor, typhoon, rain and bugs and equitably onto the polythene sheet,
extremely atmosphere responsive. which is settled on the screeding
board; the mortar is packed,
levelled to a uniform thickness of
They withstand solid breeze powers
10 mm and smoothed off with the
due to their self-weight and few covers
trowel.
in establishment.

The expend about an indistinguishable

measure of concrete from AC sheets.

Figure 15 FC Roofing sheets

4.1 PRODUCTION OF
CORRUGATED FC SHEETS

11

Figure 16 Production of FC corrugated sheets
 The casing is expelled, the edges of
the mortar layer trimmed and the
screeding board tilted, to such an
extent that the polythene sheet with
the wet fibre concrete is permitted
to step by step slide onto the ridged
form held underneath.
 The crisp FC sheet and shape is put
on a stack for essential curing for
24 hours, after which they are
sufficiently hard to be demoulded
and put upright for additionally
curing (by standard watering), or
totally submerged in water tanks
for around 2 weeks.
 Demoulding ought not be done
later than 48 hours in the wake of
trim, as the sheets tend to shrivel on
drying, and will split if opposed by
the setting mould.
4.1.3 INSTALLATION OF
ROOFING
 The folded FC sheets are laid on
timber rooftop structures similarly
as GCI and AC sheets.
 Be that as it may, FC sheets are less
adaptable and can be harmed if the
heaps are not uniformly dispersed.
In this manner, mind must be taken
in building the substructure, to
guarantee that the best edges of all
individuals are appropriately
adjusted.
 In the event that nails or jolts are
utilized, openings (of marginally
bigger distance across) ought to be
penetrated in advance. Then again,
nibs with wire circles can be
12
 thrown in amid trim, evading the
requirement for boring. Mitred
corners are basic for a weathertight
fit.

Figure 17 Installation of FC roofing

13
CHAPTER 5 washed up in clean water and dried up
for a day.
MATERIAL
5.1.3 PRODUCTION
PROTOTYPES
Sand, cement, gravel and coir are
5.1 COIR LONG FIBRE mixed up in a pan with appropriate

CONCRETE BLOCK water to make a workable mixture.

The mould is greased well and the

5.1.1 MATERIALS REQUIRED
mixture is added into the mould and set
Cement:Sand:Gravel is 1:1.5:3 with up for a day to dry out.
3% coir
The block is then cured for 7 days.
Cement:Water ratio is kept 40%

Figure 19 Before and after formaldehyde treatment of

coconut fibres to reduce the moisture content of fibre
and make it alkaline

Figure 18 Material composition

5.1.2 TREATMENTS

The coir fibre is dipped into

Figure 20 100x100 long coconut fibre concrete
formaldehyde for 2 hrs to reduce the block
moisture content of the fibre and then

14
5.2 PINE NEEDLE SHORT
FIBRE CONCRETE BLOCK

5.2.1 MATERIALS REQUIRED

Cement:Sand:Gravel is 1:1.5:3 with

3% coir

Cement:Water ratio is kept 40%

Figure 22 Before and after formaldehyde treatment
of pine needles to reduce the moisture content of
fibre and make it alkaline

5.1.3 PRODUCTION

Sand, cement, gravel and pine needles

are mixed up in a pan with appropriate
water to make a workable mixture.

The mould is greased well and the

mixture is added into the mould and set
up for a day to dry out.

The block is then cured for 7 days.

Figure 21 Material composition

5.22 TREATMENTS

The pine needles are dipped into

formaldehyde for 2 hrs to reduce the
moisture content of the fibre and then
dipped up in clean water. They are then
cleaned up again in running water and
dried up for a day.

Figure 23 100x100 pine needles short fibre concrete

block

15
CHAPTER 6

REFERENCES
— Appropriate Building Materials-Book by Kiran Mukerji and Roland Stulz

— https://www.slideshare.net/mustafasonasath/fibre-reinforced-concrete-40540346

— https://theconstructor.org/concrete/fiber-reinforced-concrete/150/

— https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jas.2012.831.839

― Spectroscopic investigation on the production of clay bricks with SCBA waste by

G. Viruthagiri, S. Sathiya priya, N. Shanmugam, A. Balaji, K. Balamurugan, E.
Gopinathan

― https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagasse

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