Evaluation of light transmittance performance of light-transmitting concrete with optical fibre

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 351; p. 128949
• Main Authors: Mei Chiew, Shing, Syahrizal Ibrahim, Izni, Azreen Mohd Ariffin, Mohd, Lee, Han-Seung, Kumar Singh, Jitendra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.10.2022
• Subjects: Light incidence angle; Light transmittance; Light-transmitting concrete; Optical fibre; Self-compacting concrete; Translucent; Optical fibre; Self-compacting concrete; Light transmittance; Light incidence angle; Translucent; Light-transmitting concrete
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128949

•Synergistic effects of fibre diameter, fibre spacing and light incidence angle were studied.•LTC specimens were tested for its compressive strength and light transmittance.•The effect of fibre diameter is more significant than fibre spacing.•ANOVA was carried out for compressive strength and light transmittance analysis.•Lower compressive strength may not due to gaps between fibre–matrix interface. Light incidence angle is an important parameter to Light-transmitting Concrete (LTC), especially when it is used for building materials exposed to sunlight. Yet, there is a lack of deeper understanding on the performance of LTC when light incidence is encountered with different angles. This study covers the synergistic effect of light incidence angle, fibre spacing, and fibre diameter on the light transmittance of LTC. Optical fibres with different diameters and spacings are incorporated into the LTC specimen. Light transmittance is measured using a light meter, where the test is conducted in a tight enclosed wooden board. The results show that, as the fibre diameter becomes larger in the LTC, the light transmittance increases. The highest transmittance of 1.613 % was found for LTC with a fibre diameter of 2 mm. In contrast, the light transmittance decreases with the increase in fibre spacing and light incidence angle. It was found that LTC with a 2 mm fibre diameter shows a significant difference with other fibre diameters even at the light incidence angle of 30°. Besides, the effect of fibre diameter on light transmittance was found to be more significant as compared to fibre spacing.