INSIGHT

e-Newsletter from L&T Construction Research and Testing Centre

Volume 1 | Issue 02 August 2022

Foreword by KVP

K. Veerappan
Vice President & Head – EDRC, B&F
Head – Research Council
NABL-accredited testing centre since 2006
Dear Readers,
An in-house, DSIR-recognized R&D centre
It is my immense pleasure to be associated with our L&T Construction
Research and Testing Centre (LTCRTC) as a chair of the Research Council
composed of key stakeholders across the ICs of L&T Construction.
This Research Council provides a common platform for various ICs to
discuss technical issues and gives an opportunity for LTCRTC to work
on them and come up with practical solutions. LTCRTC has successfully
worked on many of the R&D topics received from various ICs since
2020, and the journey continues. A few of the solutions have also been
Contents
implemented in practice. In parallel, technical papers are also published
Testing 2
from time to time in reputed national and international journals.

In addition, LTCRTC is also working on futuristic R&D topics such as Value Engineering 3
development of geopolymer aggregates, 3D printable concrete mix
design, ultra-high-performance concrete, and so on, aligned with L&T’s R&D Droplets 4
sustainability vision.
Recent Activities 6
We hope that this newsletter will provide you insight on key activities
of LTCRTC and would pave the way to associate further as and Publications and Awards 7
when needed.

Happy Reading!
TESTING

Creep Test of Concrete

This test is carried out to determine the creep rate and creep
coefficient of hardened concrete according to ASTM C512. It is a
long-duration test that can last up to 12 months, depending on
the technical requirements. This test must be performed under
stringent environmental conditions stipulated in the standards.
For instance, LTCRTC conducts creep tests at a tightly controlled
temperature of 23°C ± 1°C and a humidity of 50% ± 4%
throughout the test duration.

Projects
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project of NPCIL (completed)
• Mumbai Coastal Road Package 4 (witnessed by the clients
through video conferencing) (completed)

Cracking Tendency of Concrete

The objective of this test is to assess the cracking tendency of
restrained concrete. In general, early age cracking in high-
strength concrete occurs due to shrinkage, heat development
during hydration and restrained effects.
The required test facilities as per AASHTO T334 guidelines were
indigenously developed by LTCRTC. The test is being performed
under stringent environmental conditions by maintaining a
temperature of 23°C ± 1°C and a humidity of 50% ± 4%.

Projects
• Ishwar Gupta Setu Project, West Bengal (the clients have
witnessed through video conferencing) (completed)

Concrete creep test setup

Test Setup to assess the cracking tendency of concrete

2
VALUE ENGINEERING

Capacity Assessment of Anchor Fixtures Embedded in AAC Block Walls

The use of AAC block walls as an in-fill system in multistoried buildings leads to a reduction of dead loads on the structural
system. However, its use as in-fill on the periphery of the building has to possess the required shear and pull-out capacity to hold
loads due to structural glazing. Tests to estimate the capacity of walls made of AAC blocks were performed with mechanical
anchor fixtures. The required instrumentation setup, conduction of the test, and capturing of data were done by LTCRTC in the
presence of the design team from EDRC B&F IC. The results were shared for their further consideration in upcoming projects.

Test arrangement and monitoring Test setup

Performance Evaluation of Non-shrink

Cementitious Grouts in Precast System
About nine different proprietary non-shrink cementitious
grouts were explored in detail for their physical and mechanical
properties, considering the site requirements. The chosen
final grout product was also tested for its performance in a
splice sleeve coupler under 10,000 cycle fatigue tests. This
work was done to support one of the ongoing projects in
WET IC with a precast structural system.

Splice Sleeve Couplers Testing of Couplers in MTS machine

3
R&D Droplets

Paver Blocks Using Waste Material

Considering L&T’s commitment towards sustainability and achieving a circular economy, LTCRTC is working on the development
of construction blocks utilizing 100% waste and discarded materials such as fly ash, bottom ash, discarded glassware, and LDPE
plastic wastes. The initial results have shown promising output to encourage taking it forward further. Characterization studies
on the developed products are in progress.

BOTTOM ASH FLY ASH WASTE GLASS BOTTLES PLASTIC BAG WASTES (LDPE)

The team has developed

products from wastes,
for which characterization studies
are in progress.

BRICKS PAVER BLOCKS

4
R&D Droplets

Pile Instrumentation
LTCRTC has supported L&T GeoStructure in the establishment of an in-house pile load test instrumentation facility for the
High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project. The test setup consists of load cells, Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDT), vibrating
wire strain gauges, and data loggers meeting Japanese standards. The real-time data from the test was witnessed by the clients,
and related training was provided to the site team by LTCRTC.

This has promisingly enhanced the potential of in-house development in pile instrumentation.

Pile Load Test Setup, Section 5, TP-43

Load Cell Instrumentation Setup

5
Recent Activities

• Successfully completed NABL external audit in June and

July for all accredited test parameters. This was for continued
compliance with NABL accreditation, which we have been
maintaining seamlessly since 2006.

• An IC-wise stakeholders’ meeting with respective research

council members was held, and fifteen research topics were
identified for further proceedings in this financial year.

• New testing facilities such as Hamburg Wheel Rut Tester,

Beam Fatigue Test Apparatus, and Slab Compactor were
added to enhance our testing capabilities.

Beam Fatigue Test apparatus

Hamburg Wheel Rut tester Slab Compactor

6
Publications and Awards
LTCRTC periodically publishes technical papers in various international and national journals of repute based on the work
carried out at the centre. The following is one such recent publication:

• I. R. Mocharla, R. Selvam, V. Govindaraj, and M. Murugan, ‘Performance and Life-Cycle Assessment of High-Volume
Fly Ash Concrete Mixes Containing Steel Slag Sand’, Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier, 341, July 2022, 127814
(indexed in SCIE, Impact Factor: 6.14).

The LTCRTC Awards Cabin

Editors
Dr. Umanath Umaiyan
Editorial team
Ms. Athira Sasikumar Mr. Arnab Choudhury Mr. Boddapati Ganesh Kumar
Mr. David Chelliah Mr. Gurumoorthy Mariyappan Mr. Gurram Venkata Ramana Scan for a list of tests
Mr. V. B. Devarajan Mr. Kiran S. Togunasi conducted at LTCRTC