BioTech Encyclopedia

Materials researched for construction

lab Bamboo 2023

TiO2-decorated densified bamboo

Studied flexural performance and fracture of densified bamboo decorated with TiO2 as a sustainable structural material.

Built / tested: densified bamboo beams

As reported in: Ba, Luo, Guan et al. (2023). Robust flexural performance and fracture behavior of TiO2 decorated densified bamboo as sustainable structural materials. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-36939-6

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review Bamboo 2019

Bamboo scrimber review

A literature review of the development of bamboo scrimber.

As reported in: Huang, Ji, Yu (2019). Development of bamboo scrimber: a literature review. Journal of Wood Science. doi:10.1186/s10086-019-1806-4

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lab Cork 2019

Gypsum with cork and cardboard

An eco-friendly gypsum composite reinforced with cork fibre and cardboard waste for building thermal insulation.

Built / tested: insulation panels

As reported in: Sair, Mandili, Taqi et al. (2019). Development of a new eco-friendly composite material based on gypsum reinforced with a mixture of cork fibre and cardboard waste for building thermal insulation. Composites Communications. doi:10.1016/j.coco.2019.08.010

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lab Basalt 2018

Basalt rebar in concrete beams

Full-scale load tests on concrete beams reinforced with basalt fibre composite bars, compared with steel-reinforced beams.

Built / tested: reinforced concrete beams

As reported in: Duic, Kenno, Das (2018). Performance of concrete beams reinforced with basalt fibre composite rebar. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.04.208

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lab Biochar 2018

Biochar-concrete composites

Manufactured and evaluated mechanical properties of novel biochar-concrete composites.

Built / tested: concrete samples

As reported in: Akhtar, Sarmah (2018). Novel biochar-concrete composites: Manufacturing, characterization and evaluation of the mechanical properties. Science of The Total Environment. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.319

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lab Mycelium 2018

Fire behaviour of mycelium and its composites

Studies how pure mycelium and mycelium–biomass composites break down under heat and behave in fire tests, relevant to building use.

Built / tested: fire-test specimens

As reported in: Jones, Bhat, Kandare et al. (2018). Thermal Degradation and Fire Properties of Fungal Mycelium and Mycelium - Biomass Composite Materials. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36032-9

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lab Mycelium 2018

Mycelium bricks as insulation

Describes growing brick-shaped mycelium blocks and testing them as an insulating building material.

Built / tested: grown mycelium brick samples

As reported in: Xing, Brewer, El-Gharabawy et al. (2018). Growing and testing mycelium bricks as building insulation materials. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/121/2/022032

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review Clay 2016

Cement-stabilised rammed earth

Reviews rammed earth walls stabilised with cement as a lower-impact building method.

As reported in: Kariyawasam, Jayasinghe (2016). Cement stabilized rammed earth as a sustainable construction material. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.189

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commercial Wood 2016

Cross-laminated timber overview

An overview of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and its development.

Built / tested: CLT panels

As reported in: Brandner, Flatscher, Ringhofer et al. (2016). Cross laminated timber (CLT): overview and development. European Journal of Wood and Wood Products. doi:10.1007/s00107-015-0999-5

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review Bamboo 2015

Engineered bamboo for structures

Reviewed engineered bamboo products for structural applications.

As reported in: Sharma, Gatóo, Bock et al. (2015). Engineered bamboo for structural applications. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.01.077

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lab Basalt 2015

Basalt vs glass fibre in concrete

Compared concrete reinforced with basalt fibres against glass fibres in mechanical and fracture tests.

Built / tested: fibre-reinforced concrete specimens

As reported in: Kizilkanat, Kabay, Akyüncü et al. (2015). Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of basalt and glass fiber reinforced concrete: An experimental study. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.10.006

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lab Coconut coir & shell 2015

Coir fibre concrete beams

Microstructure, flexural properties and durability of coir fibre reinforced concrete beams strengthened with flax FRP.

Built / tested: concrete beams

As reported in: Yan, Su, Chouw (2015). Microstructure, flexural properties and durability of coir fibre reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with flax FRP composites. Composites Part B: Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.06.011

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lab Flax 2015

Flax FRP strengthening of coir concrete

Coir fibre reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with flax fibre-reinforced polymer.

Built / tested: concrete beams

As reported in: Yan, Su, Chouw (2015). Microstructure, flexural properties and durability of coir fibre reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with flax FRP composites. Composites Part B: Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.06.011

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review Geopolymers & volcanic ash 2015

Geopolymer concrete review

A review of recent developments in geopolymer concrete.

As reported in: Singh, Ishwarya, Gupta et al. (2015). Geopolymer concrete: A review of some recent developments. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.036

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review Hemp 2015

Hemp in buildings review

A review of the energy and environmental assessment of industrial hemp for building applications.

As reported in: Ingrao, Lo Giudice, Bacenetti et al. (2015). Energy and environmental assessment of industrial hemp for building applications: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.06.002

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lab Clay 2014

Earth blocks with date-palm fibre

Added date-palm fibres to compressed earth blocks and measured strength and moisture behaviour.

Built / tested: fibre-filled earth blocks

As reported in: Taallah, Guettala, Guettala et al. (2014). Mechanical properties and hygroscopicity behavior of compressed earth block filled by date palm fibers. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.058

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lab Geopolymers & volcanic ash 2014

Slag in ambient-cured fly ash geopolymer

Effect of slag (GGBFS) on setting, workability and early strength of fly ash geopolymer concrete cured at ambient temperature.

Built / tested: concrete samples

As reported in: Nath, Sarker (2014). Effect of GGBFS on setting, workability and early strength properties of fly ash geopolymer concrete cured in ambient condition. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.05.080

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commercial Clay 2013

Rammed earth from granitic soils in Portugal

A case study of rammed earth buildings made with local granitic residual soils.

Built / tested: rammed earth buildings

As reported in: Silva, Oliveira, Miranda et al. (2013). Rammed earth construction with granitic residual soils: The case study of northern Portugal. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.05.047

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lab Geopolymers & volcanic ash 2011

Geopolymers from volcanic ash

Synthesis and thermal properties of geopolymers made from volcanic ash for structural and refractory use.

Built / tested: refractory samples

As reported in: Lemougna, MacKenzie, Melo (2011). Synthesis and thermal properties of inorganic polymers (geopolymers) for structural and refractory applications from volcanic ash. Ceramics International. doi:10.1016/j.ceramint.2011.05.002

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lab Geopolymers & volcanic ash 2010

Curing metakaolin geopolymer

Effect of curing temperature on hardening of metakaolin-based geopolymer.

As reported in: Rovnaník (2010). Effect of curing temperature on the development of hard structure of metakaolin-based geopolymer. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.12.023

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prototype Hemp 2008

Sprayed hempcrete

Measured mechanical and thermal properties of lime and hemp concrete made by a spray projection process.

Built / tested: hempcrete walls

As reported in: Elfordy, Lucas, Tancret et al. (2008). Mechanical and thermal properties of lime and hemp concrete (“hempcrete”) manufactured by a projection process. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.07.016

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lab Clay 2007

Testing compressed earth blocks

Examined how to measure the compressive strength of pressed earth building blocks.

Built / tested: compressed earth block test specimens

As reported in: Morel, Pkla, Walker (2007). Compressive strength testing of compressed earth blocks. Construction and Building Materials. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.08.021

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lab Basalt 2005

Basalt fibre for strengthening concrete structures

Characterised basalt fibre sheets as a material for strengthening concrete structures.

Built / tested: basalt fibre sheet test specimens

As reported in: Sim, Park, Moon (2005). Characteristics of basalt fiber as a strengthening material for concrete structures. Composites Part B: Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2005.02.002

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lab Basalt 2005

Basalt fibres in geopolymer concrete

Measured fracture toughness of cement-free geopolymer concrete with added basalt fibres.

Built / tested: geopolymer concrete samples

As reported in: Dias, Thaumaturgo (2005). Fracture toughness of geopolymeric concretes reinforced with basalt fibers. Cement and Concrete Composites. doi:10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2004.02.044

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