Transparent Concrete

National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
Civil Engineering Department

Autumn-2019-20
Report on seminar and technical writing-I

(CE-493)
Topic:Transparent concrete(LiTraCon)
Submitted by: Submitted to:

Tamatam Krishna Reddy Prof. Mahendra Gattu
116CE0075 Department of Civil Engg.
Table of Contents
1.Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3
2.Ingredients of transparent concrete .............................................................................................................. 3
3.Optical fibres .................................................................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Types of optical fibres.............................................................................................................................. 3
3.2 Total internal reflection in a fiber............................................................................................................ 4
4.Manufacturing of transparent concrete......................................................................................................... 5
5.Applications .................................................................................................................................................... 6
6.References ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Transparent concrete
1.Introduction
Concrete has been used since Roman times for the development of infrastructure and housing,
but its basic components have remained the same. Three ingredients make up the dry mix: coarse
aggregate, consisting of larger pieces of material like stones or gravel; fine aggregate, made up of
smaller particles such as sand; and cement, a very fine powder material that binds the mix together
when water is added.
In 2001, the concept of transparent concrete was first put forward by Hungarian architect Aron
Losonzi at the Technical University of Budapest, and the first transparent concrete block was
successfully produced by mixing large amount of glass fiber into concrete in 2003, named as
LiTraCon. The transparent concrete mainly focuses on transparency and its objective of application
pertains to green technology and artistic finish. It is the “combination of optical fibers and fine
concrete”.
Translucent concrete (Transparent concrete) is new technique different from normal concrete.
Translucent concrete allow more light and less weight compared to normal concrete. The use of
sunlight source of light instead of using electrical energy is main purpose of translucent concrete, so
as to reduce the load on non- renewable sources and result it into the energy saving. Optical fibers is
a sensing or transmission element, so decrease the use of artificial light, the normal concrete is
replaced by translucent concrete, which has natural lighting and art design.
2.Ingredients of transparent concrete

1. Fine concrete
a) Cement
b) Sand
c) water
2. Optical fibres
3.Optical fibres
Optical fiber is a wave guide, made of transparent dielectric (glass or plastics) in cylindrical
form through which light is transmitted by total internal reflection. It guides light waves to travel over
long distances without much loss of energy. Optical fiber consists of an inner cylinder made of glass
or plastic called core of very high refractive index. The core is surrounded by a cylindrical shell of
glass or plastic of lower refractive index called cladding. The cladding is covered by a jacket which
protects the fiber from moisture and abrasion.
3.1 Types of optical fibres

Based on the refractive index profile and the number of modes, optical fibers are divided into
three types. They are:
a. Step index single mode fiber
b. Step index multimode fiber
c. Graded index multimode fiber
A step index single mode fiber (figure 3.1) may have very small core diameter (i.e. 5- 10µm).
Due to its small core diameter, only a single mode of light ray transmission is possible. About 80%
of the fibers that are manufactured in the world today are of this type.
Figure 3.1 Step index single mode fiber

A step index multimode fiber (figure 3.2) has a core diameter of 50 to 200µm and an external
diameter of cladding 125 to 300µm. Since the core material is of uniform refractive index and the
cladding material of lesser refractive index than that of core, there is a sudden increase in the value
of refractive index from cladding to core. Since the core has larger diameter, propagation of many
modes within the fiber is allowed.
Figure 3.2 Step index multimode fiber

In a graded index multimode fiber (figure 3.3), the refractive index of the core is maximum
at the axis of the fiber and it gradually decreases towards the cladding. Since there is a gradual
decrease in the refractive index of the core the modal dispersion can be minimized.
Figure 3.3 Graded index multimode fibre
3.2 Total internal reflection in a fiber

The principle behind the transmission of light waves in an optical fiber is total internal
reflection. The total internal reflection in the walls of the fiber can occur only by the following two
conditions:
i. The glass around the centre of the fiber (core) should have higher refractive index (n1)
than that of the material (cladding) surrounding the fiber (n2).
ii. The light should incident at an angle (between the path of the ray and normal to the
fiber wall) greater than the critical angle, θc.
Figure 3.4-Total internal reflection illustration
4.Manufacturing of transparent concrete

In the process of making light transmitting concrete, the first step involved is preparation of
mould. The mould required for the prototype can be made with different materials which can be of
either tin or wood. The standard minimum size of the cube according to IS 456-2000 is
15cmX15cmX15cm for concrete. Plates made of sheets which are used in electrical switch boards is
used which will be helpful in making perforations and give a smooth texture to the mould, holes are
drilled in to the plates. The diameter of the holes and number of holes mainly depends on percentage
of fiber used.
Step 1-Preparation of the Mould:
Various types of mould are available in market.
Figure 4.1 different types of moulds for transparent concrete

Step 2- Optical Fiber:
The optical fibers are cut carefully to the required size of mould. The commonly available
diameters of optical fibers are .25 mm, .5 mm, .75 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm.
Figure 4.2 optical fibers

Step 3- Fixing the Fibers:
Fibers are placed either in organic distribution or in layered distribution. Optical fibers are
allowed to pass through holes in steel plates.
Figure 4.3 fibers fixed in a mould

Step 4- Concreting:
The thoroughly mixed concrete is poured carefully and slowly without causing much
disturbances to the previously laid optical fibers. The concrete is filled in smaller or thinner layers
and is agitated with the help of vibrating tables to avoid the void formation.
Step 5- Removing the Mould:
After 24 hrs, remove the mould and pull off the mud. The casted mould was kept
undisturbed on the levelled platform. Then it was de-moulded carefully after 24 hours from
casting. Immediately after de-moulding, the cube specimens were marked by their respective
identification mark/numbers (ID).
Step 6- Cutting and polishing:
Cut the extra-long fibers same as thickness of panel. Polish the panel surface by using
polishing paper or using sand paper as shown in figure 4.4.
Figure 4.4 Trimming and polishing of the surface
5.Applications
a. Transparent concrete blocks suitable for floors, pavements and load-bearing walls.
b. Facades, interior wall cladding and dividing walls based on thin panels.
c. Partitions wall and it can be used where the sunlight does not reach properly.
d. In furniture for the decorative and aesthetic purpose.
e. Light sidewalks at night.
f. Increasing visibility in dark subway stations
g. Lighting indoor fire escapes in the event of a power failure.
h. Illuminating speed bumps on roadways at night.
6.References
1. Paul, Soumyajit and Dutta, Avik. TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE. 2013.
2. Bhushan, MNVPadma, Md Afzal Basheer Pasha and K.Prasanthi, Optical Fibres in the Modeling of
Translucent Concrete Blocks. Vol. 3, pp. 13-017. 2248-9622.

Transparent Concrete

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National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

Civil Engineering Department

Report on seminar and technical writing-I

Submitted by: Submitted to:

2.Ingredients of transparent concrete

3.1 Types of optical fibres

Figure 3.1 Step index single mode fiber

Figure 3.2 Step index multimode fiber

Figure 3.3 Graded index multimode fibre

3.2 Total internal reflection in a fiber

4.Manufacturing of transparent concrete

Figure 4.1 different types of moulds for transparent concrete

Figure 4.2 optical fibers

Figure 4.3 fibers fixed in a mould

Figure 4.4 Trimming and polishing of the surface

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