The aim of the module is to enhance students'' knowledge and understanding of the advances made in conventional construction materials and alternative construction materials that have and are currently being developed for use in construction to achieve more innovative, and sustainable structures.

Knowledge and Understanding

At the end of this module a student is expected to:

• Understand the advances and recent developments made with regards to conventional construction materials.
• Understand and acknowledge the development of innovative construction materials and the research, trials, product developments and case studies that support the use of such alternatives.
• Understand and appreciate why it is important to develop and use more durable and sustainable construction materials in response to globally driven protocols which aim to protect the environment and reduce green house gases and CO² emissions.

Intellectual Abilities

On successful comple tion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate ability in:

• Identifying a suitable material/technology which will be economical and durable within a given environment whilst at the same time being the most suitable material in terms of long term sustainability and satisfying the project requirements.
• Identifying the need for alternative construction materials based on economic, environmental and sustainability drivers.
• Understanding the process involved in developing new and alternative construction materials.
• Understand the chemistry, composition and manufacture of materials.

Practical Skills

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to show experience and enhancement of the following discipline-s pecific practical skills:

• Selecting/specifying materials (advanced conventional and newly developed alternatives) for optimised economics, increased durability and long term sustainability within a given environment.

General Transferable Skills

On successful completion of the module, students should be able to show experience and enhancement of the following key skills:

• Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry;
• IT skills.
• Report writing skills
• Presenting skills

Special Concretes, Lightweight Aggregate Concretes (LWA), Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), Foamed Concrete, High Density Concrete, High Strength Concrete (HSC), High Performance Concrete (HPC), Fibre-reinforced Concrete (FRC), Engineering Cementitous Composites (ECC), Spray Concrete, Heat Resistant Concrete, Underwater Concrete, Polymer-modified Concrete, Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Self-compacting Concrete (SCC).

Alternative reinforcement materials for concrete, epoxy coated, stainless steel, galvanised steel, GFRP, basalt bars, structural synthetic fibres and steel fibres.

Advanced composites, polymers, fibre-reinforced polymers, steel lattice, polyvinylbutryal (PVB) its use in glazing products, case studies, spec ialist applications and future potential.

Geotextiles, types and their use in civil engineering.

Low carbon natural building materials and their applications and future potential, earth as a building material, building with lime, hemp lime buildings materials, other renewable materials in construction, carbon benefits of renewable materials, future potential with case studies and recent trials.

Straw bale construction, construction details, performance of straw bale assemblies, structural performance of plaster individual bale construction performance, bale wale construction performance, future potential with case studies and recent trials. building.

Alternative materials for construction,sourcing of natural fibres, sourcing of waste plastics, development of hemp fibre/bale wrap composites for construction, harvesting, retting and extraction of hemp, waste plastics preparation, fabrication of composites, mechanical properties and moisture resistance of hemp fibre composites, examples of building products, trials, case studies and future potential.

Architectural and structural fabrics, fabric types, structure of fabric, physical and mechanical properties, patterning, categorisation, factors considered in choice of fabric examples of fabric structures, case studies and future trends.

Advanced use of glass in the construction industry, laminated (PVB) for increased ductility, pre-stressed structural glass elements, glass floo ring and walling systems, case studies and future trends.

Advanced use of timber in the construction industry, ‘tall’ timber buildings, pre-stressed timber beams and walling systems, advanced timber connections, optimised timber construction, case studies and future trends.

Sustainable construction – what does it mean, ICE sustainability action plan.

Structural ceramics

Recycled building materials, sourcing, certification, re-use and application.

Tutorials and revision session

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