Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 747

Abstract: This paper presents a solid agricultural solid waste, namely oil palm shell (OPS) as coarse aggregate to produce insulation concrete. This study will investigate the porosity, air permeability and thermal conductivity of OPS lightweight concrete (OPSLC). Nine mix designs were developed which comprised three OPS shapes and three volume fractions of OPS. The results indicated that increased volume fraction of OPS caused decreased durability performance and thermal conductivity. The shape of OPS is found to have significant effects to the porosity content and air permeability values. Thus, there is a strong relationship between porosity content and air permeability for all specimens. Based on the results, all specimens are found to be in the range of insulation concrete category except for specimen C-30, which has more than 0.75W/mK thermal conductivity according to RILEM requirement. The thermal conductivity of OPSLC is comparable with artificial lightweight aggregate.

Abstract: The natural wealth of Indonesia produces a wide range of natural resources. This research will discuss sawdust and coconut fiber for example from natural resources which can be processed into building materials. Various researches have studied the absorber made from sawdust and coconut fiber, but only a few studies that made the absorber material that had the texture of waffle on its surface. The research method used was the method comparisons of density, absorption coefficient and Sound Transmission Loss (STL). The result is that the waffle panel from sawdust has a higher density than the waffle panel made of coconut fiber. The STL of the coconut fiber panel has ranged between 46,134 – 51,312 dB. This value is lower than the STL material of sawdust that has a value between 47,301 – 62,688 STL. The absorption coefficient of coconut fiber panels is 0,432–0,511, while the absorption coefficient of sawdust panel has range of 0,469 – 0,529.

Abstract: Concrete is a mixture of portland cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and water, with or without additives which form a solid mass. The purpose of this study was to find and innovative method of producing concrete mix from solid waste material as alternative. The alternative materials used in concrete mix was fiberglass. Material reduction in the sand on the concrete can decreases the strength until the fiberglass material added and increase the compressive strength on concrete. The composition of fiberglass that used in this study was 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%. The methodology used is the design of concrete mix in according to SNI 03-2834-2000. The results are concrete with the addition of EPS can reduce the density and the compressive strength of normal concrete, concrete EPS was added to increase the value of compressive strength fiberglass. The addition of fiberglass in concrete EPS only on the variable of 0.5% - 1% fiberglass, if greater than 1%, the compressive strength of concrete decreased because the material has not homogeneous concrete during mixing. The largest density value of 10% EPS concrete with fiberglass on the concrete test 28 days is the concrete EPS 10% + 0.5% fiberglass by weight of the curing process and the type of 2127.73 MPa and compressive strength are the largest and EPS concrete with compressive strength amounted to 11.277 MPa. The addition of 10% EPS can reduce the compressive strength of concrete at 3.75%. The addition of fiberglass obtained with a percentage of 0.5% - 1% is the most effective additions so as to improve the quality of concrete by 0.74%. Concrete with compressive strength has a curing system which is much better than the non-curing concrete, because concrete experience of concrete hydration reaction process which takes place optimally.

Abstract: This paper will focus on experimental investigation to observe the effects of different densities and additives on the thermal properties of foamed concrete by means of Hot Disk Thermal Constant Analyzer, so as to obtain a few fundamental thermal properties for prediction of its fire resistance performance. For this study, samples of three different densities of 700kg/m³, 1000kg/m³ and 1400kg/m³ and various additives were investigated to study the effects of densities and additives on the thermal properties of foamed concrete. The additives used in this research were pulverized fuel ash (PFA), silica fume, palm oil fuel ash (POFA), wood ash, polypropylene fibre, steel fibre and coir fibre. It should be pointed out that the lowest density of foamed concrete (700kg/m³) has provided best thermal insulation properties due to large amount of pores and high percentage of air entrapped because air is poorest conductor of heat than solid and liquid. Also, foamed concrete with coir fibre achieved lowest thermal conductivity because it possess high heat resistance due to its large percentage of hemicellulose and lignin and exhibited high heat capacity as well due to the formation of uniform pores and voids in foamed concrete.

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental study of the influences of different percentage waste concrete ash used as cement replacement materials to form a new concrete. The experimental process will be evaluated based on mechanical performance and durability of the concrete. To improve the quality of cement replacement concrete, another concrete admixture was added to work with the waste concrete ash. The mix proportioning of the waste concrete ash used is between 5% and 40% of the replacement cement materials, and for concrete admixture is fixed in optimum amounts. Every specimen is cured in water until it reaches the right age to be tested, and in this experiment, the specimens will be tested at the age of 7, 14, 28, 90 and 180 days. Based on this study, it is revealed that increasing a percentage of waste concrete ash will reduce the quality of concrete. However, the addition of concrete admixture will restore the strength of the concrete. Furthermore, it shows that an increase of Waste Concrete Ash in percentage of cement replacement will cause a loosening between the binders and aggregate, thereby lowering the compressive strength.

Abstract: Sustainable asphalt pavement is important in decreasing material costs by improving the existing material such as modified asphalt binders. It is also needed to provide a quality riding for road users. In achieving quality riding, the material selection and mix design must be correctly examined before using in pavement construction. Then, the aims of this study are to determine suitability of material selected by examining the aggregate properties and modified asphalt binder. In modified asphalt binder, 6% of polyacrylate polymer was added as an additive in 500g of binder content to dissolve. It was checked through Superpave gyratory compactor in determining air voids samples in term of height after compacted. The samples were mixed with different percentages of binder content; 5%, 5.5%, 6% and 6.5% to produce control and polyacrylate modified samples. 8 gyratory for N_initial and 100 gyratory for N_design were used in compaction of samples to determine air voids in term of height. The results show that 5.5% of binder content of polyacrylate modified samples has lower air voids compare than control samples. Thus, modified binders are able to minimize binder usage and save natural sources and also cost by improving bonding between mixtures to prevent pavement failure

Abstract: Rapid development in Malaysia has led to urban development encroaching into the peat land area. Nevertheless, the physical properties of peat which is regarded as a problematic ground has prompted many studies on various methods of stabilization. The used of byproduct material then become a need for a sustainable environment. This paper presents the results of the unconfined compressive test of stabilized peat by admixture method. A constant composition of pond ash as byproduct material (10%) and three different contents of hydrated lime (2%, 4% and 8%) were mixed together with peat respectively. The samples were prepared in the mould and allowed for curing under 0, 14 and 28 days before the test. The experimental results demonstrated that the compressive strength and stiffness of the stabilized peat increases with the hydrated lime content and also with curing time. It indicates that the mixed of pond ash and hydrated lime can promote a better compressive strength of peat, hence become a potential admixture for stabilizing the peat.

Abstract: Noise is one of the problems that often occur in urban areas due to the traffic condition. Noise in a building design depends on the choice of materials as sound absorbers. The type of sound dampening material that already exists is a porous material, a resonator, and a panel. The material often used as an absorber is porous materials, because it is relatively cheaper and lighter, especially to reduce the noise in the narrow spaces such as housing and offices. Various substitutes are made from cheap materials, such as the use of recycled materials of egg tray paper with the size of 40 x 40 centimeters. This is a quantitative research that will measure the place of egg tray paper in reducing noise, using a Sound Level Meter. The use of the egg tray paper is able to show an adequate acoustic quality as noise absorbers, with the average value of NR 22-26 dB.

Abstract: Prefabricated system has been used extensively in many developed and developing countries to provide low cost housing. There are many case studies that took the advantage of prefabricated system as part of self help approach in house construction. Prefabricated system in self help housing proved to be cost effective, provide employment opportunities, utilise low skill levels and maximise local natural resources. Malaysia is also promoting prefabricated system to be used in low cost housing provision. There are obstacles to implement such technology into the conventional construction industry. This paper investigates the possibility of adapting local resources, such as timber, into prefabricated components as a mean to promote not only modular coordination concept but also promote self build approach in the community at a lower skill labour. It is not an immediate solution to housing issues yet it provides alternatives to house the low income group and contribute to increase the supply of housing.

Abstract: The need for affordable onsite sensing device (AOSD) has been determined in the medical, environmental, and educational fields since mid 2000s. This article aims to explore the unique nature and definition of the AOSD, and conclusively culminated the discussion into a designed prototype trial device. The definition of AOSD was concluded as “a unique cost efficient device that can solve users’ actual small problems giving unique experimental capacity to improve their quality of life, quality of education, quality of environment, and quality of job under quite resource limited settings”. The best water hygiene indicator, E. coli, was selected as an example of analyte. A designed prototype trial E. coli AOSD showed very good performance in a community engagement program in LAO PDR.