Analyzing damages at concrete structures due to physical, chemical, and mechanical exposures need the application of innovative non-destructive testing methods that are able to trace spatial changes of microstructures. Here, the utility of three different crack detection methods for the analysis of computed tomograms of various cementitious building materials is evaluated. Due to the lack of re...

An examination of the building materials sector raised two critical questions: Why do more firms in the building materials sector not attempt to directly gauge end-users’ preferences? And, why do many materials producers employ self-limiting definitions of building materials? The sector was analyzed using transaction cost economics and network theory. A framework was then developed for material...

The geotechnical behaviour of expansive clay soils is investigated by looking into the geomorphologic, geological and climatic conditions and mineralogical composition of the soils in the study area. The geotechnical results are linked with the performance of the foundation as well as structures. Since swell potential and swell pressure are key properties of expansive soils, the swell parameter...

This paper presents the experimental and theoretical results of applying resonant acoustic spectroscopy (RAS) to determine elastic parameters and losses in such consolidated granular materials as rock and building bricks. First, the theoretical aspects of the RAS method are outlined. A computer code for the rectangular and cylindrical samples was developed and tested. The results of experiments...

The utilization of many industrial byproducts in the construction industry is now well-developed as it helps in improving the sustainability in two ways. First, reuse of the materials which otherwise will burden the environment and will be occupying scarce land resource. Second, it minimizes the degradation of land and the environment as a result of comparatively less digging. Quantities of was...

The construction industry is one of the biggest and most active sectors of the European Union (EU), consuming more raw materials and energy than any other economic activity. Furthermore, construction waste is the commonest waste produced in the EU. Current EU legislation sets out to implement construction and demolition waste (CDW) prevention and recycling measures. However it lacks tools to ac...

In the furniture and construction industries, there is increased demand for lightweight, high-performance, and low-maintenance materials with specific properties. Increased demand necessitates testing of new and composite materials to find a viable alternatives to classical materials. In this study, two different types of cork layered plywood composites (plywood board with a cork core (PLYW-K1)...

As green building material, fly ash is advantageous to solving the question of environmental protection and energy conservation. In this paper, combined with the author’s research production, the latest development of studies and applications of activation techniques of fly ash is summed up, which is being looked forward to being useful to researchers and engineers. The latest researches show t...

Reducing construction waste is becoming a key environmental issue in the construction industry. The quantification of waste generation rates in the construction sector is an invaluable management tool in supporting mitigation actions. However, the quantification of waste can be a difficult process because of the specific characteristics and the wide range of materials used in different construc...