SEMINAR ON TRANSPARENT CONCRETE

2. CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 HISTORY
 MATERIAL USED FOR TRANSLUCENT
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
 MANUFACTURING PROCESS
 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
 OUTPUT AND STRENGTH PROPERTY
 APPLICATION
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

3.  Transparent material means which can be seen from one part to another
part.
 Light transmitting concrete (LiTraCon) also known as translucent
concrete, is a concrete based building material having light-transmissive
property.
 It is a new technique different from normal concrete. Translucent
concrete allow more light and less weight compared to normal concrete.
 Light-transmissive property is mainly due to uniform distribution of
optical fibers throughout its body.
 It is available as prefabricated building blocks and panels.
 It is used in floors, pavements, ceiling, load-bearing walls,
partition walls etc.

4. HISTORY
 In 2001 the idea of transparent concrete was found by
Hungarian architect Aron Losonczi.
 Successfully produced in 2003, named LiTraCon.
 In 2004, he started a German company, named
LiTraCon and started producing LiTraCon
commercially.
Aron Losonczi

5.  The two basic materials used for making transparent
concrete:
1. Fine Concrete
2. Optical Fibers
 Fine Concrete: consists of cement and fine aggregate such as sand
& instead of coarse aggregate optical fibers are used.
 Optical fibers:
1. An optical fiber is a hair thin cylindrical fiber made of glass or
transparent dielectric medium
2. Its function is to guide visible infrared light over long
distances.

6. 3. It has three parts :
 CORE:- central tube of very thin size made up of optical transparent dielectric medium
and carries the light from transmitter to receiver. The core diameter can vary from about 5um
to 100um.
 CLADDING:- outer optical material surrounding the core having reflecting index lower
than core. It helps to keep the light within the core throughout the phenomena of internal
reflection.
 BUFFER COATING:- plastic coating made of silicon rubber which protects the fiber.
The typical diameter of fiber after coating is 250um -300um.
4. Three kinds of optical fiber: I. multimode graded-index fiber.
II. multimode step-index fiber.
III. single mode step-index fiber.

7. STRUCTURE
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8. MATERIALS
CONTINUED......
 Cement: Ordinary Portland cement is used for transparent
concrete.
 Sand: The size of sand should pass through 1.18mm sieve.
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9. CONTINUED......
 Water: Water to be used for transparent concrete
should be of drinking water quality.
 Optical fibers: Thickness of the optical fibers can be
varied between 2 µm and 2 mm.
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10.  Transparent concrete works based on “Nano-Optics”.
 The principle behind the transmission of light in an optical fiber is
total internal reflection. The light should incident at an angle greater
than the critical angle.
 In the optical fiber the rays undergo repeatedly until the total number
of reflections run out to the other end of the fiber even if the fiber is
bent.

11. MANUFACTURING PROCESS
 The manufacturing process of transparent concrete is almost same as regular
concrete.
 Small layers of concrete ( with a ratio of 1:2 for mixing ) are poured into the
mould and on top of the each layers, a layer of fibers is infused.
 Fabric and concrete are alternately inserted into moulds at intervals of
approximately 2mm to 5mm.
Another Method-
 Many holes are punched on side walls of the mould.
 Optical fibers have to be run through these holes from one end to another
& clay is used to withstand optical cables for support and concrete is
poured into it.
 Adding 4% to 5% optical fibers by volume into the concrete mixture.
 1000’s of strands of optical fibers are cast into concrete.
 The casted material is cut into panels or blocks & polished typically.

12.  choosing a desire mould.
 make a needed design.
 attach clay on the bottom of the mould.
 induce optical fiber cables at desired shape.
 after that pour fine concrete at its approximate ratio.
 set to dry and allow to curing.
EXPERIMENTAL SET UP

13.  Finally we get the transparent concrete in desire shape.

14. STRENGTH PROPERTY
 The casted material is cut into
panels or blocks of the specified
thickness and the surface is then
typically polished, resulting in
finishes ranging from semi-gloss
to high-gloss.
PRODUCT
LITRACON - LIGHT
TRANSMITTING CONCRETE
Form Prefabricated blocks
Ingredients
96% concrete, 4% optical
fibre
Density 2100-2400 Kg/m3
Block size 600mm x 300mm
Thickness 25-500mm
Colour White, Grey or Black
Fibre distribution Organic
Finished Polished
Compressive strength 50 N/mm2
Bending Tensile strength 7 N/mm2

15. APPLICATIONS
Transparent concrete blocks is
suitable for :
 Floors
 Ceiling
 Pavements
 Load-bearing walls
 Partitions wall
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Panels illuminate in different colours

16. Contd…
 In furniture for the decorative and aesthetic
purpose.
 Light sidewalks at night.
 Increasing visibility in dark subway stations.
 Lighting indoor fire escapes, in the event of a
power failure.
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Stairs

17.  Energy saving can be done by utilization of transparent concrete in building.
 It has very good architectural properties for giving good aesthetical view to the
building.
 Highest UV resistance.
ADVANTAGES
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18. 1) Very high cost about $1000/m2.
2) Labours with technical skills are required to use it.
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19. 1)THE EUROPE GATE
 It is located in Fortress Monostor in the Hungarian town,
Komarom
 The sun illuminates the 37.6ft large Litracon piece of the
statue in the mornings and late afternoons
 In night an even more impressive view can be seen because
of the embedded light sources.
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Day view
Night view

20. 2) CELLA SEPTICHORA , PECS, HUNGARY
It has a door made of Litracon Panels set in a steel frame.
CONTD…
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Day viewNight view

21. 3) NEW HEADQUARTERS OF BANK OF GEORGIA:
 Walls, walks, receptions, offices and consultation desks are illuminated by
transparent concrete
CONTD…
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23.  Light transmitting concrete is an emerging trend in concrete technology.
 Its initial cost is high. But, routine maintenance is not required and in long run it
may be advantageous.
 It’s a green building material reducing the lightning cost during day time. It’s
proved to provide both aesthetic appearance and structural stability.
 In future the it’s cost is expected to decrease.
 It is one of the best applications of optical glass fibers which is related to technical
textiles.
CONCLUSION
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24. REFERENCES
 https://www.slideshare.net/transparent-concrete
 Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translucent_concrete
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzULTrCEHjE
 https://youtu.be/v6v-DXMK5w8
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber
 www.powershow.com/view/.../Translucent Concrete power point PPT
presentation
 https://theconstructor.org/concrete/transparent-concrete-light-transmitting-
concrete/92
 https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-optical-fiber-definition-lesson-
quiz.html