Modern

materials
and their
Construction
techniques
ARIF TA M I L

PA U L TUSHAR

R A J A P R AV E E N
Materials throughout the ages

Neolithic construction 20th century

Stone, metal, animal hide, bark, clay, lime plaster etc. Concrete, Wood, Steel, Plastic, Glass, etc.

Rammed earth, brick, lime mortar, stone, firewood

etc.

Middle ages
What is a modern material?
A modern material is a material that has been engineered to have improved properties.

Traditional materials are those that have been in use for centuries, such as paper, wood, stone and
metals.
We have also developed modern materials, which can be used alongside them.

Concrete, aluminium and steel are all commonly used modern materials, but more recent additions
include materials that have changed the way we manufacture and use products.
Types of
modern
materials

Graphene : is a single carbon layer

material, which is hypothetically
100 times stronger than steel. It is
hypothetical because we are yet to
manufacture it in large enough
As of now, the most likely applications for graphene in architecture
quantities to prove this. In theory, it are in small-scale products such as coatings, solar cells, and
could provide body armour that is electronics.
bulletproof, invisible and almost
weightless.
Titanium : is a modern metal and is
used in sporting and medical
applications, such as replacement
hip joints and high-performance
bicycles. It is an excellent material
for these purposes as it has a high
strength-to-weight ratio and is
resistant to corrosion.
Guggenheim
Museum, Bilbao

Architect: Frank
Gehry
Metal foams : are a strong but
lightweight modern material
produced by injecting a gas or
foaming agent into molten metal.
Typically, only 5-25 per cent of the
foam is the metal, and this allows
the material to retain much of its
strength but without the density or
weight of a solid metal. Metal
foams are often used in vehicles
such as planes and cars as they
absorb shock effectively if the
vehicle crashes.
Composite
materials
Composite materials are made up of
different materials which are
combined to improve their
properties. They can be a
combination of natural and
synthetic materials but fall into
three main categories:

•fibre-based composites

•particle-based composites

•sheet-based composites
 Fibre-based
Materials Uses
composite

Fibre-based Glass-reinforced
plastic (GRP)
Glass fibres and
resin
Boats, instrument
cases
composites Formula 1 car
Carbon-reinforced Carbon fibre and bodies, crash
plastic (CRP) resin helmets, sports
Fibre-based composites are equipment
reinforced with fibres. By mixing Glass-reinforced Glass fibre and Street furniture,
resin or concrete with fibres of concrete (GRC) concrete urban features
glass or carbon we get the ability to
mould complex shapes but
reinforcing them with the fibres
makes them very strong.
 Particle-based
Materials Uses
composite
Cement, sand and Buildings, street
Concrete
aggregate furniture
Particle-based Electronic
composites Cermet
Ceramic (cer) and
metal (met)
components that
need to operate
under very hot
temperatures

Particle-based composites are made

with small particles of material. By
mixing smaller particles of sand
with larger particles of cement and
aggregate, such as stones, we get a
very strong and dense material
suitable for building large
structures.
 Sheet-based
Materials Uses
composite
Medium-density Furniture and
Wood pulp and resin
fibreboard (MDF) interior cladding
Sheet-based Plywood
Wood veneers and
resin
Furniture and
construction
composites Chipboard Wood chip and resin
Furniture panels and
construction

Sheet-based composites are often

available in large sheets. By mixing
wood fibres or thin slices of wood
veneers with resin it is possible to
form large and stable sheets for
furniture panels and interior
construction.
Modern
methods of
construction
1.Precast Flat Panel System
2.3D Volumetric Modules
3.Flat Slab Construction
4.Precast Cladding Panels
5.Concrete Wall and Floors
6.Twin Wall Technology
7.Precast Concrete Foundation
8.Concrete Formwork Insulation
Modern construction methods (MMC) are methods that
are developed in construction industry with proper
planning and design so that each project reduces the
construction time, cost and maintain overall
sustainability.
A wide variety of modern methods of construction
(MMC) techniques and products have been developed
that have completely changed the behavior of
construction industry from what it was before. This
change is amazing and is in the way to bring more and
more developments in this sector.
Precast Flat
Panel System
This method of construction involves
the procedure of making floor and wall
units off site. For this, separate factory
outlets and facilities are required.
Once the panel units are made as per
the design specification and
requirements, they are brought to the
site and placed. This method is best
suited for repetitive construction project
activities.
The panels manufactured has the
services of windows, doors and
the finishes. This method also
brings building envelope panels
which are provided with
insulation and decorative
cladding that is fitted by the
factory which can also be used
as load – bearing elements.
 Blocks can be erected rapidly
3D at site and properties of
Volumetric concrete like fire retardant,
sound resistivity, thermal
Construction mass etc. are retained.

As the name implies, the 3D

volumetric construction involves the
manufacture of 3D units in the form of
modules off site. At the time of
installation, they are brought to the site
and assembled module by module.
Each modular unit manufactured are
3D units, hence this construction is
called as 3D volumetric construction or
modular construction.
 This technique utilizes the

Flat Slab simplicity of contemporary

formwork for quickly building
Construction flat slabs to facilitate easy and
swift placing of horizontal
amenities and for partitioning.
The flat slabs are structural elements
that are highly versatile in nature.
The flat slab provides minimum
depth and faster construction. The
system also provides column grids
that are flexible.

The flat slab construction is also a

means of increasing the energy
efficiency as this allows the
exploitation of building thermal
mass in the design of ventilation,
heating and the cooling
requirements.
Precast
Cladding
Panels
The cladding system is the
installation of a material over
another that finally act as a skin or a
layer. This system of layer is not
only intended for aesthetics, but it
can help in controlling the
infiltration of the weather elements.

No kind of waterproof condition is provided by the cladding.

Instead, the cladding is a control measure against water
penetration. This safely helps in directing the water or the wind
so that there is control of the runoff. This helps to prevent the
infiltration into the building structure.
Concrete
Walls and
Floors
Concrete walls are mainly applied for seat
walls, retaining wall, decorative exterior,
and interior finishes.

The concrete is also used a flooring

material. As per the latest technology, the
concrete floors can be provided with good
finish to provide smooth and attractive
flooring.

When compared with any other material,

the concrete floors provide a wide variety
When compared with other flooring types, concrete flooring is
of material for applications like acid- affordable, and maintenance is easy. Concrete flooring can be
stained painted, radiant floors, overlays, cleaned by a dust mop.
and micro toppings. The concrete flooring
can also be called as cement flooring.
Twin Wall
Technology
The twin wall technology is a hybrid solution of
wall system that combines the qualities of
erection speed and precast concrete with the
structural integrity of in-situ concrete. This type
of wall system guarantees structural integrity
and waterproof reliability for the structure.

The twin wall system has two walls slabs

that are separated as shown in the figure-6.
The two slabs are separated by cast in
lattice girders. The procedure involves: This system of construction is faster
1.The wall units are placed in the site. than normal construction methods
and economical. The twin wall
2.The twin units are propped temporarily.
system is mainly employed in
3.The wall units are later joined by means association with the construction of
of reinforcing. precast floors.
4.The gap between the wall units are filled
by means of concrete.
Precast
Concrete
Foundations
For the rapid construction of
foundation, the precast concrete
system can be employed. This
method is more suited for a bespoke
design.
Here, the elements required for the
construction of foundation are
constructed separately in the factory
(off site) and brought to the site and
assembled. The manufactured
product must have the assured quality
as specified by the designer.
The foundation assembled is mainly
supported by concrete piles. During
assembling, both the systems are
connected together. These foundation
systems helps in increasing the
productivity, increase quality,
decrease the soil excavation quantity.
This is best suited for extreme and
adverse weather conditions. When the
construction is dealt on a highly
contaminated ground, this system of
construction is a best choice.
Insulating
Concrete
Formwork (ICF)

ICF technique employs polystyrene

blocks that feature twin walls and can be
rapidly put together for creating building
wall formwork. The formwork is then
pumped in with high quality, ready
mixed, factory-made concrete.

The building construction process

becomes fool-proof and the resultant
structure has a high level of sound and
thermal insulation.
Higher level of thermal insulation is provided by expanded polystyrene
blocks. The concrete core will provide good robustness and better
sound insulation.
THANK YOU