Modeling the mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer composites is difficult because of their nonlinear response to external stimuli. Constitutive relations offer one way to account for the nonlinearity, and a team of researchers in Russia used this approach to model polymer composites designed as shut-off valves for pressure vessel service equipment.
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Sustainable manufacturing is about more than just recycling—it involves rethinking the way we collect, process, and reuse materials as well. A university–industry partnership in Australia looks to develop apartments that are made primarily with green ceramics and other repurposed waste materials.
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Adding pigment to cement is one way to produce colored concrete. Researchers in China and Morocco showed that the content and purity of the pigment can have adverse effects on the cement’s properties.
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In recent years, China has undergone a glass bridge building boom as local authorities seek to entice tourists. Despite the brittleness of glass, civil engineers explain how careful design can ensure the safety of bridges built from this material.
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The heat island effect is a major problem for many big cities, and relying on air conditioning for cooling can be expensive and increase air pollutants. Several initiatives in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, look to combat the heat using environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions.
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As renewable energy technologies become more widely deployed, we need a way to store all of the generated energy. Two researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden explored creating a cement capable of storing energy, an ability that would allow future buildings to essentially serve as giant batteries.
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Many companies creating 3D-printed homes rely on using concrete or synthetic materials like plastic, materials not always readily available in all parts of the world. In Italy, Mario Cucinella Architects and 3D printer manufacturer WASP are collaborating to design a 3D printing process for homes that uses local soil.
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Since 1989, the Brick Industry Association has sponsored the Brick in Architecture Awards to recognize exceptional uses of clay brick in architecture. The 41 global winners for the 2020 awards include entries spanning the United States, Australia, Canada, China, and Germany.
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Substituting waste materials for cement in concrete helps lower the concrete industry’s carbon emissions and keeps waste materials out of landfills. However, large amounts of glass cullet in concrete will decrease the concrete’s mechanical properties. Researchers in Poland investigated reinforcing the cement–glass composite using plastic fibers.
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To date, recycling of building rubble into new construction products is limited because the material does not meet strict building regulations. A new £6 million project led by Manchester Metropolitan University and partners across Europe aims to overcome this limitation using additive manufacturing because products produced this way are not subject to the same building restrictions.
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