Faculty Publications
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/18736
Publications by NITK Faculty
Browse
20 results
Search Results
Item Durability studies of polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete(Springer, 2019) Srikumar, R.; Das, B.B.; Goudar, S.K.A research programme was initiated to understand the durability of polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC). PFRC was prepared with varying dosages of polypropylene fibre. Dosages used were 0.5–1.5% of cement content (by weight) with an interval of 0.5% and was added as a cement replacement to concrete mix. Durability studies were carried out by exposing the 28 days cured cubical specimens into marine environment having different pH levels (1, 4, 7, 10 and 13). The varying pH levels represent the pH of industrial effluents. The marine environment was simulated in the laboratory by adding 3.5% NaCl to the tap water. The specimens were exposed for the durations of 60 and 90 days. The resistance of concrete to marine environment was measured through compressive strength retention and ultimate bond strength retention. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies were also carried out to understand the fibre dispersion. Test results show that compressive and bond strength increases with increase in pH and decreases with increase in immersion duration. Concrete with 0.5 and 1% fibre content are more desirable and have given higher residual compressive and residual bond strength when compared to concrete with 1.5% fibre content. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019.Item Durability studies on glass fiber reinforced concrete(Springer, 2019) George, R.M.; Das, B.B.; Goudar, S.K.In the present experimental study, glass fibers were used in varying dosages of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of cement content (by weight) as partial cement replacement to cement in concrete mix. The effect of different dosage of glass fibers on the bond strength between steel and concrete in reinforced concrete was investigated. As a part of durability study, the combined effect of marine environment and varying levels of pH on the ultimate bond strength retention and compressive strength retention of glass fiber reinforced concrete was also studied. Durability studies were carried out by exposing the 28-day cured cubical specimens into marine environment having different pH levels (1, 4, 7, 10 and 13). The salt solution was simulated in the laboratory by adding 3.5% NaCl to the tap water. Calculated amount of sulphuric acid was added to salt solution to maintain pH of 1 and 4 in marine environment. Similarly, calculated amount of sodium hydroxide was added to salt solution to maintain pH of 10 and 13 in marine environment. The specimens were exposed to aggressive environment for a period of 60 and 90 days. As the fiber dosage increased the workability reduced, and 1.5% fiber dosage had the least slump value. The addition of glass fibers had very minimal influence on compressive strength of glass fiber reinforced concrete. The ultimate bond strength of concrete increased due to the addition of glass fibers. The increase in ultimate bond strength was confirmed through SEM images which shows proper bonding between cement paste and glass fibers. As for as the exposure studies are concerned, 1.0% fiber dosage of glass fiber reinforced concrete had shown better compressive strength and ultimate bond strength retention compared to 0.5 and 1.5% fiber dosage. The pH of the marine environment has a decisive influence on the compressive strength retention and bond strength retention. Exposure to marine environment with pH 1 suffered severe loss in compressive strength and ultimate bond strength with very low strength retention values. However, exposure to marine environment with pH 10 and 13 had minimal strength losses with higher values of compressive strength and ultimate bond strength retention. Increase in exposure period to aggressive media leads to decrease in compressive strength and ultimate bond strength, but the strength retention values for glass fiber reinforced concrete were comparatively better compared to control concrete. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019.Item Predicting the Service Life of Reinforced Concrete by Incorporating the Experimentally Determined Properties of Steel–Concrete Interface and Corrosion(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Sumukh, E.P.; Goudar, S.K.; Das, B.B.Service life of a reinforced concrete structure depends on its durability in aggressive exposure conditions. In the case of reinforced concrete structures, the phenomenon that directly affects its durability is corrosion of rebar, which has direct influence on the residual service life. Corrosion in reinforced concrete basically initiates at its weakest zone called steel–concrete interface due to its porous nature. The extent of this porous zone is being represented in terms of Porous zone thickness which has been extensively reported by various researchers. This porous zone thickness is one of the key influencing factors in the prediction of residual service life of the reinforced concrete structure. Several mathematical models were proposed by various researchers to estimate the time required for cover cracking of concrete due to rebar corrosion by assuming different values of porous zone thickness (PZT) without any systematic experimental investigation. Assuming a steady value of PZT for all kinds of concrete without any practical justification will misinterpret the predicted residual service life. In the present work, an effort has been made to evaluate an existing analytical model to predict the time to concrete cover cracking by incorporating the experimentally obtained and published data on porous zone thickness. It was found that the porous zone thickness and rate of corrosion have a major role in evaluating the residual service life of reinforced concrete structures. © 2021, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.Item Influence of Incorporating Phase Change Materials on Cementitious System—A Review(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.Phase change materials (PCMs) are gaining more attention in achieving the sustainability and are being widely adopted as a green building material because of their exclusive ability to store latent heat of thermal energy. PCMs have a capacity to minimize the energy loads and to provide thermal comforts in building infrastructures by its iterative cycle of absorbing and releasing the heat energy. The potential need for manipulating the heating and cooling effect in buildings is significantly increasing especially in temperature fluctuating and varied climatic regions. It is for this one of the significant reasons, PCMs are getting pronounced interest by the research fraternity in the development of a thermally effective PCM-based construction material. In this paper, attempts were made to compile the data reported by the previous researchers on the influence of incorporating PCMs in the engineering properties of cementitious system such as slump, compressive strength, flexural strength, density, porosity, water absorption, shrinkage, durability, heat of hydration, specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. This paper also discusses the most favorable content of PCM addition and effective methods of incorporating PCMs in the cementitious system. © 2021, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.Item Impact of Phase Change Materials on the Durability Properties of Cementitious Composites—A Review(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Vismaya, K.; Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.Phase change materials (PCMs) are the novel thermal storage materials which have an ability to engross and dispel heat during the process of phase transition from solid to liquid and vice versa. Utilization of PCMs in cementitious composites has gained a lot of attention from the research fraternity to minimize the energy loadings used for space conditioning and heating in building. Impact of PCM’s presence in cementitious composites on the durability parameters is the need for its better usage. This paper gives the state of review on the influence of inclusion of phase change materials in the cementitious system on its various durability aspects. Durability properties such as porosity, water absorption, shrinkage, chloride ingression, and chemical attacks are compiled in this article. It is stated that the integration of PCM in cement composites enhances the porosity of cementitious system. Major hindrance described by the researchers is the interruption of hydration activity of cementitious system by the addition of PCM. Literature also signified that the micro/nano encapsulates PCMs and the use of highly reactive Pozzolans such as silica fume or nano-silica in conjunction with PCMs has the ability to lock up the limitations of PCMs. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.Item A comprehensive review on the use of hemp in concrete(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.A simple mixture of hemp hurd, water, and lime is used to make hemp concrete. It is indeed one of the few materials that can continue to absorb carbon after being employed in construction, storing more carbon in the atmosphere over the building's lifetime than was emitted during construction. Furthermore, hemp can be harvested in as little as 60 days. Hemp concrete is a “carbon-negative” or “better-than-zero-carbon” substance because the hemp plant absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits during its production and application on site. It is a bio-composite material that can be utilised as an alternative to concrete and standard insulation in building. Hemp concrete is also recyclable at the end of the building's lifespan. This study summarises the fast-developing body of knowledge about hemp concrete, which was recently developed. © 2022 Elsevier LtdItem Molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research: A systematic review of techniques, models and future directions(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.This paper presents a comprehensive review of the application of molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research. The study addresses the background and significance of the topic, providing an overview of the principles, applications, and types of molecular dynamics simulation, with a particular focus on its role in enhancing the understanding of concrete properties. Moreover, it critically examines existing research studies that employ molecular dynamics simulation in concrete research, highlighting the associated benefits and limitations. The paper further investigates various simulation techniques and models employed in concrete research, offering a comparative analysis of their effectiveness. Additionally, the study explores future directions and identifies research needs in the field of molecular dynamics simulation in concrete, while also discussing the potential impact of this approach on the sustainability of the construction industry. By providing a comprehensive overview and critical analysis, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners interested in leveraging molecular dynamics simulation for advancing concrete science and engineering. © 2023 The Author(s)Item Valorization of Incinerated Biomedical Waste Ash in Cementitious System: A Comprehensive Review(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Joshi, S.; Snehal, K.; Das, B.B.; Barbhuiya, S.Disposing of incinerated biomedical waste ash (IBWA) contaminated with heavy metals (e.g., Cr, Zn, Pb) poses significant environmental and public health concerns, necessitating innovative and sustainable management strategies. Cement-based solidification emerges as a promising approach to repurpose IBWA by effectively immobilizing heavy metals and mitigating their ecological footprint. However, broader industrial and societal acceptance of IBWA as a substitute for cement and sand remains constrained owing to limited quantification of IBWA availability and safety concerns. In this perspective, the current paper presents a global database on IBWA availability and maps the geographic distribution of biomedical waste incinerators in India. It also comprehensively reviews IBWA’s potential in mortar/concrete, focusing on its physico-chemical, leachability, hydration, mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties. The study further highlights the importance of a cradle-to-gate and gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to holistically assess the environmental performance of IBWA-incorporated mortar systems, promoting circular economy principles and resource efficiency in the construction sector. IBWA, with its high SiO₂ and CaO content (> 50%), exhibits latent hydraulic properties suitable for construction applications. The porous cellular structure of IBWA can lead to increased porosity and water absorption in concrete. Leachate analysis demonstrated the effective stabilization of heavy elements within the cement hydration matrix (C-S-H, C-A-S-H, etc.), meeting US EPA regulatory standards. LCA interprets that IBWA utilization of up to 10% cement replacement material and 30% sand replacement material could curtail the carbon footprint and energy demand by ~ 25–35% and 15–25%, respectively, compared to conventional cement-based mortar systems. These findings highlight IBWA’s potential to transform the construction sector, aligning it with global sustainability goals and reducing its dependence on non-renewable resources. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shiraz University 2025.Item Structural performance and implementation challenges of next-generation concrete materials(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Barbhuiya, S.; Das, B.B.; Rajput, A.; Katare, V.; Das, A.K.Conventional concrete faces limitations in durability, sustainability, and adaptability to modern structural demands, constraining its use in high-rise, bridge, and extreme-environment applications. This study examines emerging concrete mixes—HPC, UHPC, SCC, FRC, GPC, and 3D-Printed Concrete—by evaluating their mechanical properties, implementation challenges, and future opportunities. A review of experimental data, case studies, and comparative analyses was conducted to assess strength, durability, workability, and structural applications. Results show that HPC and UHPC reach compressive strengths of 60–200 MPa, GPC achieves 40–80 MPa with reduced CO₂ emissions, SCC demonstrates slump flows of 600–800 mm, and fibre reinforcement enhances tensile strength to 8–15 MPa. These findings highlight superior performance, sustainability, and constructability, though high costs, lack of standards, and scalability issues remain obstacles to widespread adoption. This review uniquely integrates comparative insights on High-Performance, Ultra-High-Performance, Self-Compacting, Fibre-Reinforced, Geopolymer, and 3D-Printed concretes, bridging laboratory findings with real-world applications. Unlike existing reviews, it emphasizes structural implementation challenges and opportunities. Key obstacles—including high cost, lack of standards, and scalability—are outlined to contextualize pathways for sustainable adoption. Overall, next-generation concretes deliver enhanced strength, durability, and sustainability, making them viable for critical infrastructure. Future studies should focus on advancing standardization, integrating nanotechnology and AI for mix optimization, and developing cost-effective, large-scale deployment strategies. © 2025 The AuthorsItem Acid, alkali and chloride resistance of high volume fly ash concrete(Indian Society for Education and Environment indjst@gmail.com, 2015) Sahoo, S.; Das, B.B.; Rath, A.K.; Kar, B.B.Objectives: To find variation in compressive strength and mass of high volume fly ash concrete samples subjected to different chemical solutions of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate and sulphuric acid. Methods: A total of 900 numbers of cubes were cast and cured with four levels of curing period of 28, 56, 90 and 120 days. After certain duration of curing period, specific numbers (60) of cubes were submerged each in 5 percent sodium sulphate solution (Na2SO4), 5 percent sodium chloride solution (NaCl) and 1percent of sulphuric acid solution (H2SO4) separately in chemical exposure containers for an exposure period of 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. Findings: Investigations with respect to acid, alkali and chloride resistance were carried out on high volume fly ash concrete, HFC (40 percent replacement with cement), low volume fly ash concrete, LFC (25 percent replacement with cement) and their performances against control concrete (NC) is presented in this paper. Their performance was measured with respect to the loss in compressive strength and weight of the concrete cubes over the period of exposure time. It is found that the resistance of control concrete to all the three chemical attack is better only up to 28 days of water curing. At 56 days of water curing LFC shows better resistance against the control and HFC. However, with prolonged water curing of cubes of 90 days and more, HFC has consistently shown highest resistance; whereas the control concrete faced a great loss in strength.