Civil

Millions of people have no access to clean drinking water due to scarcity of fresh waters. In many such arid regions and coastal areas, seawater desalination can be a reasonable alternative as source of drinking. One of the main issues with desalination is the need for lot of energy. Studies have been conducted to use renewable energy sources for desalinating sea water. Solar power has lot of potential for desalination and this paper summarizes the studies conducted so far on the usage of solar power for desalination. Different desalination techniques employed will be discussed with their advantages and disadvantages.

The paper explore procedure to determine the amount of incident passive solar energy in a building using ventilation and day lighting analysis using Computer-Aided simulation and by manual calculation as well. This helps the engineers to design for a comfortable and beautiful space by reducing excess lighting loads and cooling loads and to enhance the air circulation inside the building. Day lighting and ventilation analysis is important to design an efficient building. The analysis starts with an understanding of a project's site characteristics and local climate by examining annual weather data and sky conditions. Daylight and natural ventilation simulation software are utilized to calculate illuminance and ventilation levels for each hour of the day based on record yearly weather data. Multiple design options are analyzed in accordance with the specific project goals to better inform our recommendations. Day lighting and natural ventilation systems offer tremendous potential in reducing the energy consumption of electricity. The amount of daylight and ventilation received in an internal space can be analyzed by undertaking a Daylight factor and ventilation calculation.

This paper proposes novel concrete interlocking blocks made of fly ash and GGBS which are an alternative for the conventional concrete blocks. The artificial neural network (ANN) technique is used to estimate the mechanical strength of interlocking blocks and is verified with experimental investigation. The ANN model is based on the Levenberg–Marquardt principle which is executed using MATLAB. The inputs are given in the percentage ratio of cement: fly ash: crushed stone aggregate (FA): coarse aggregate (CA) for the process of learning, testing, and validation. The selected model is subjected to several trials in terms of mean square error, containing 4 input, 2 sets of 10 hidden layers, and one output components. In this study, a total of 2600 blocks of different mixes were tested as per IS 2185-1 (2005) to assess 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days’ strength. The experimental investigations were carried out in two phases. In the first phase, experimental investigations to identify the optim...

The paper explore procedure to determine the amount of incident passive solar energy in a building using ventilation and day lighting analysis using Computer-Aided simulation and by manual calculation as well. This helps the engineers to design for a comfortable and beautiful space by reducing excess lighting loads and cooling loads and to enhance the air circulation inside the building. Day lighting and ventilation analysis is important to design an efficient building. The analysis starts with an understanding of a project's site characteristics and local climate by examining annual weather data and sky conditions. Daylight and natural ventilation simulation software are utilized to calculate illuminance and ventilation levels for each hour of the day based on record yearly weather data. Multiple design options are analyzed in accordance with the specific project goals to better inform our recommendations. Day lighting and natural ventilation systems offer tremendous potential ...

This study determines the suitability of using shredded waste plastic and waste ceramic powder (WCP) to produce interlocking concrete blocks (ICB). The study adopted a concrete mix ratio of 1:2 containing 20 % partial replacement of sand with ceramic waste. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and water absorption of the interlocking concrete blocks were determined, after 7, 28, and 90 days of curing. The ICBs developed include mixes containing plastic fibres in proportions 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2% by weight of concrete, and a control mix with zero ceramic waste and plastic fibres. The microstructure and mineralogy of selected samples were observed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD (X-ray diffraction), respectively. From the result, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of the interlocking concrete blocks increased with an increasing plastic fibre content. Also, the microscale tests revealed good compactness, and interparticle reactions in the matrix. Thus, the study recommends 2% of plastic fibre content for the production of interlocking concrete blocks.

This study investigates the microstructural characteristics and mechanical strength of vibro-compacted interlocking concrete blocks, with a particular focus on incorporating image processing techniques. The research aimed to optimize the performance of these blocks by using a dry mix concrete with precise water content. A total of 1200 blocks were manufactured using 30 different mix ratios, each comprising 40 blocks. The mechanical strength of the blocks was evaluated at multiple time intervals, including 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. Through X-ray diffraction Analysis, the mineral composition of cement and fly ash was identified, providing a deeper understanding of their crystalline phases. Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis revealed the impact of fly ash on the microstructure, resulting in a denser and less porous concrete matrix. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis offered valuable information about the chemical components and their reactions within the mix. Mechanical Strength Testing demonstrated that replacing 5% of cement with fly ash consistently resulted in higher compressive strength. The optimized mix proportion of 25% crushed stone aggregate, 65% coarse aggregate, and 5% fly ash and cement demonstrated desirable compressive strength. A strong correlation (R = 0.9826) was observed between the analyzed images and the mechanically evaluated strength of the blocks through image processing and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Analysis. The findings support the use of fly ash as a beneficial addition to vibro-compacted concrete interlocking blocks, contributing to the blocks' binding and strength. The utilization of fly ash also promotes environmentally friendly practices. The integration of image processing and ANN analysis provides insights into the microstructure and predicts compressive strength based on image analysis. This multidimensional evaluation enhances the design and optimization of interlocking blocks, ensuring their structural integrity and durability. This study offers quantitative evidence for the positive effects of fly ash and the effectiveness of image processing techniques in the development of eco-friendly and strong vibrocompacted interlocking concrete blocks.