Indian Concrete Journal

Development of a machine learning-driven interface for indigenous plastering machine: A mix design optimization approach Archana Girish Tanawade, Animesh Sunil Kothavade, Gaurav Shahaji Khandagale, Gayatri Bhagwan Waybhase, Parth Madhavrao Joshi

Plastering in buildings is still ineffective due to inconsistent mix designs and reliance on manual knowledge. The goal of this project is to maximise mortar mix compositions by creating a machine learning-powered user interface for an automatic plastering machine. Four regression models: Random Forest, SVR, Bayesian Ridge, and Naïve Bayes were evaluated using 189 mortar samples. Random Forest exposed the best accuracy with R² = 0.816. Material estimate driven by artificial intelligence assures consistency and helps to lower waste by means of realtime monitoring and automated mix optimisation guarantees. This study advances automated, sustainable plastering for India’s expanding infrastructure, so raising building efficiency and quality.

Effect of accelerated corrosion on GFRP-SSWM hybridstrengthened concrete cylinders: An experimental investigation V. J. Kalyani, R. V. Makawana, D. D. Joshi, P. V. Patel

The present study mainly focuses to investigate corrosion resistance of concrete cylinders strengthened with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) - stainless steel wire mesh (SSWM) hybrid wraps under accelerated corrosion conditions. A total of 21 concrete cylinders (100 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height) are cast, each reinforced with an 8 mm steel bar at the centre. Six different wrapping configurations, including single and double layers of GFRP and SSWM including hybrid wraps, are considered. The specimens immersed in a 3.5 % sodium chloride solution and 60V anodic voltage is supplied for 28 days to simulate accelerated corrosion environment. Corrosion performance is assessed using a digital half-cell potential meter and through visual inspection. From the results of experimental investigation, it is observed that that GFRP-SSWM hybrid wraps effectively enhances corrosion resistance of concrete cylinders by reducing rate of corrosion progression.

Performance of limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) concrete using polypropylene and steel fiber Sachin M. Gunjal, Sudhir B. Gayake, V. Sairam, B. Kondraivendhan

Limestone calcined clay cement (LC³) is a ternary blended cement that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and lowers energy consumption during manufacturing. In this study, polypropylene (PP) and hooked-end steel (HES) fibers were incorporated into both LC³ -based and conventional concretes. M25 grade concrete was prepared using LC³ and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as binders. HES fibers were added at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 % by volume, while PP fibers were used at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 %. The fresh and hardened properties of LC³ - based concrete were compared with those of OPC concrete. The maximum compressive and flexural strengths for both LC³ and OPC mixes reinforced with steel fibers were achieved at 2 % fiber content, whereas the highest strength with PP fibers was recorded at 0.3 %. LC³ concrete exhibited superior improvement in impact resistance compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete. However, workability decreased progressively with increasing fiber content.

Suitability of geopolymer matrix used in the construction of ferrocement water tank with natural fibres Patankar A. S., Patankar S. V., Sayyad A. S.

This study sounds incredibly innovative blending ferrocement technology, geopolymer matrix, and natural fibers like Ambari fiber creates a promising sustainable and efficient construction solutions. By replacing chicken mesh with Ambari fiber mesh, it also opens up opportunities to explore the integration of locally available, eco-friendly materials in construction. Geopolymer mortar was prepared using fly ash, maintaining an alkaline solution-to-fly ash ratio of 0.35. Two water tank was cast using ferrocement technology in which Ambari fibre was used to support the geopolymer matrix instead of chicken mesh. This study explores mechanical properties, and environmental impacts of geopolymer matrix compared to conventional cement matrix.

Resistance of steel fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete under impact using demolition waste aggregates R. Kumutha, L. Dhanush Kannan, K.N. Mohammad Salmaan Shariff, D. Praveen Kumar

This paper presents the investigations carried out to find out the feasibility of incorporating fine and coarse aggregates recycled from construction and demolition (C & D) wastes in conventional concrete (CC) and geopolymer concrete (GPC) mixtures with a special attention on the impact resistance. Four mixes were adopted, the first mix is with conventional fine aggregate (CFA) and conventional coarse aggregates (CCA), second mix is with Recycled Coarse Aggregate (RCA) and recycled fine aggregate (RFA), the third mix consists of CCA and RFA and the fourth mix comprises of RCA and CFA. Drop weight hammer tests were conducted for both the concretes with and without steel fibres. In fibrous concrete mixtures, hooked end steel fibres were added at 0.5 % of volume fraction of concrete. Effect of steel fibres in improving the resistance to impact were investigated using drop hammer test as per ACI 544 procedure. Addition of steel fibres enhances the impact resistance of conventional and geopolymer concrete. The findings of the present investigation will be useful for practical applications of recycled aggregate concrete in the construction industry promoting the circular economy and the steel fibre reinforced concrete will find its way in the real time applications where the impact strength is the major criterion.

Sustainability and durability studies of ternary blended ultra-high performance concrete Vineet Kothari, Urmil Dave

With the increasing demand for high-rise buildings and longspan bridges in India, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is becoming increasingly recognized for its exceptional strength and durability. This study investigates the casting and testing of UHPC made with a blend of Class F fly ash, blast furnace slag, micro silica, and cement as binders. Five optimized UHPC mixes, featuring a binder content of 1400 kg/m³ and a water-to-cement ratio (w/c) of 0.16, were evaluated according to ASTM C1856. Key durability tests, including rapid chloride permeability and water impermeability, were performed. The findings revealed a direct correlation between compressive strength and embodied CO₂ (eCO₂). Additionally, the durability results highlighted the importance of mix optimization, underscoring the need for a balanced selection of materials to enhance both sustainability and durability in UHPC.

Real life flexural members – all are under-reinforced doubly reinforced sections Dipanjan Nath, Santanu Bhanja

As per load based prescriptive method of design, a beam is generally designed as a singly reinforced section if the external moment acting on the section is within the balanced moment of resistance for the grade of concrete and steel considered. Otherwise, it is to be designed as a doubly reinforced one which is always a balanced section as overreinforced sections are not permitted as per IS: 456 (2000). Since moments are reversible in nature and a certain percentage of reinforcement provided at a section needs to be continued as per the requirements of the standards, all beams have reinforcements on both top and bottom faces. However, to simplify the design calculations compression reinforcements are ignored and tension reinforcements are only considered in the load design. If reinforcements on both sides are to be taken into consideration, capacity-based design approach is to be adopted. The two limiting or terminal flexural design conditions as per IS: 456 (2000), are balanced and maximum under-reinforced conditions. All flexural members are to be designed within the domain of these two limiting conditions. The basic objective of design is to interpret the behavior of structural elements under loads. Structural elements are inert in nature and will behave as per their own natural characteristics. They cannot understand that some of their resources have not been considered in design, rather reinforcements on both the faces will be effective in resisting loads. In real life situations, compression reinforcements are provided in under-reinforced sections making the sections under-reinforced doubly reinforced ones. Though the calculations of moment of resistance of such sections are a bit complicated and needs to be performed by following capacity-based approach instead of load design, this methodology not only results in economical sections but can effectively predict the structural behavior of the sections. The present paper is a humble effort in this direction.