Requested research

Literature review: Overview of generally applied test standards for regular concretes, such as determination of compression and tensile strengths, elastic modulus, and so on.

Material testing: Perform laboratory tests on so-called low-strength concretes mixed by volume, to obtain key mechanical parameters for seismic modeling of concrete bands in rubble stone masonry.

Process documentation: Record in detail the full sequence of preparing, curing, and testing concrete samples mixed by volume, with the aim of developing a specific test standard for low-strength concretes.

Background: inferior construction quality

In rural and mountainous areas of developing countries, concrete use in stone masonry has traditionally been limited due to the high cost and scarcity of cement. However, concrete beams and bands can be critical in improving the seismic performance of masonry buildings.

Concrete requires only four ingredients — cement, sand, aggregates, and water — mixed in the right proportions. In practice, construction quality in developing regions is often substandard due to inferior materials, mixed by hand and in wrong ratios. This results in what we refer to as low-strength concrete.

To realistically simulate field conditions, this project tests low-strength concrete for mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus. Samples will be mixed by volume, intentionally incorporating imperfections and weak proportions. The results will contribute to the development of a new experimental testing standard specifically for low-strength concretes.

Further action

This assignment is part of a broader research effort on testing material properties for seismic modeling of stone masonry. It connects directly with related projects on low-strength mortars and optimizing steel reinforcements in concrete bands.

Interested? For more information, or to explore this as a final-year thesis opportunity, send us an email to schedule a meeting.