SMART MATERIALS

Module 5

SUBMITTED BY :
SUMUKHA
SUDHARSHAN
GAURAV
MEGHA MADHU
 Definition of smart materials
• Smart materials; are engineered materials which are able to provide a unique
beneficial response when a particular change occurs in its surrounding
environment.
• In architectural definition, smart materials are high technological materials that
when placed in a building they respond intelligently to the climatic changes, in
different seasons (summer, winter, etc.) Either the environment is hot or cold to
comfort or to get the human needs.
• The term “Smart materials” is applicable to materials and systems that can
responsively react to change interior environments through material properties or
material synthesis.
• Smart Materials are often considered to be a logical extension of the trajectory
in materials development toward more selective and specialized performance.
• From this vision, they are similar to living beings, have the ability to perform
both sensing, actuating functions and are capable of adapting to changes in the
environment.
Benefits of using smart materials in architecture
Smart materials and its production processes may offer a wide range of benefits in
construction field including:
• Superior strength, toughness, and ductility.
• Enhanced durability/service life.
• Increased resistance to abrasion, corrosion, chemicals, and fatigue.
• Initial and life-cycle cost efficiencies.
• Improved response to extreme events such as natural disasters and fire.
• Ease of manufacture and application or installation.
• Aesthetics and environmental compatibility.
• Ability for self-diagnosis, self-healing, and structural control.
Smart materials characteristics

According to different stimulus-response, smart materials are able to reversibly

change their properties. Whether a molecule, a material, a composite, an
assembly, or a system, the five fundamental characteristics distinguishing a
smart material from the more traditional materials used in architecture are
defined as follows :
1. Immediacy: they respond in real time;
2. Transiency: they respond to more than one environmental state;
3. self -actuation: intelligence is internal to rather than external to the
“material”;
4.Selectivity: their response is discrete and predictable;
5. Directness: the response is local to activating event. All smart materials can
be grouped into three type’s characteristics,
6.property changing materials;
7.energy exchanging material;
8. Material exchanging (Discrete size/location –Reversibility)
Types of Smart Materials
Smart materials and systems could be divided into two
classes:
Type 1:
Materials undergo changes in one or more of their properties (chemical, electrical,
magnetic, mechanical, or thermal) in direct response to a change in external stimuli
in the surrounding environment. The energy input to a material affects the internal
energy of the material by altering the material’s microstructure and the input results
in a property change of the material, include the following :
• Thermochromics - an input of thermal energy changes the material’s color.
• Phototropic - materials that change color when exposed to light.
• Magnetorheological and electrorheological - the application of a magnetic field
(or for electro-rheological -an electrical field) causes a change in micro-
structural orientation, resulting in a change in viscosity of the fluid.
• Thermotropic - an input of thermal energy (or radiation for a phototropic,
electricity for electrotropic and soon) to the material alters its microstructure
through a phase change. In a different phase, most materials demonstrate
different properties, including conductivity, transmissivity, volumetric expansion,
and solubility.
 Electrochromics - materials that change colour when a voltage is applied.
Related technologies include liquid crystals and suspended particle devices that
change colour or transparencies when electrically activated.
Phase-changing materials - use chemical bonds to store and release heat.
Adhesion-changing materials - change the attraction forces of adsorption or
absorption of atoms or molecules when exposed to light or electrical field.
Shape memory - an input of thermal energy (which can also be produced
through resistance to an electrical current) alters the microstructure through a
crystalline phase change. This change enables multiple shapes in relationship to
the environmental stimulus.
Mechanochromics - materials that change colour due to imposed stresses and/or
deformations.
Chemochromics - materials that change colour when exposed to specific
chemical environments.
Type 2:
Smart materials transform energy from one form to another. The energy input to a material changes the
energy state of the material composition but does not alter the material, it stays the same, but the energy
undergoes a change, include the following:
•Light-emitting materials, that convert an input energy to an output of radiation energy in the visible
spectrum, are including, - Photoluminescents (input is radiation energy from the ultraviolet spectrum. -
Electroluminescent (input is electrical energy). Chemoluminescent (input is chemical reaction).
• Piezoelectrics (an input of elastic energy - strain produces an electrical current. Most piezoelectrics are
bi-directional in that the inputs can be switched and an applied electrical current will produce a
deformation - strain).
• Thermoelectrics (an input of electrical current creates a temperature differential on opposite sides of
the material).
• Photovoltaics (an input of radiation energy from the visible spectrum produces an electrical current.
• Electrostrictives (the application of a current produces elastic energy - strain which deforms the shape
of the material).
• Magnetostrictives (the application of a magnetic field produces elastic energy - strain which deforms
the shape of the material).
• Light Emitting Diodes - LEDs.
SMART CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
SMART CONCRETE
• The innovation is the invention of smart concrete, that concrete is itself a sensor of strain or
stress.
• The sensing ability is not due to that concrete has been modified through the use of admixtures
so it becomes a sensor see Fig. 6., without the admixtures, the sensing ability is poor.
• The sensing ability is associated with the reversible change of the electrical resistance of the
concrete upon deformation in the elastic regime [18]. Short carbon fibers are added to the
conventional concrete mixture, this modification gives the concrete the ability to detect stress
and tiny deformations in the concrete.
• In the presence of structural flaws - within a levee made of smart concrete, for example - the
concrete's electrical resistance increases. This change can be detected by electrical probes placed
on the outside of structures.
• Similarly, the electrical properties of smart concrete could be used to detect underground stress
that builds prior to an earthquake, to monitor building occupancy for intruders or for stragglers
during an evacuation, and to monitor traffic flow in an emergency or around borders
SMART BRICKS

Bricks stuffed with sensors, signal processors and wireless communication

links warning about hidden stresses, or damage in the aftermath of natural
calamities like earthquakes, storms or hurricanes.

A variety of additional sensors depending on the application, such as sensors

for detecting moisture, humidity, sound, chemicals, stress, force, and so forth.
Built into a wall, the brick could monitor a building’s temperature, vibration,
and movement .
sensor node could be used in fire curtain walls found in stairwells to send
information regarding the safety of building exits during a fire. The tilt and
acceleration sensors would provide structural damage data while the
temperature sensors would indicate areas of active burn or unsafe for an exit
due to compromised fire curtain.

Such data collected from distributed network of sensors in a large building or

skyscraper could dramatically increase the safety of occupants and well as
emergency crews. Also, these could be vital to firefighters battling a blazing
skyscraper, or to rescue workers ascertaining the soundness of an earthquake-
damaged structure.
SMART WRAP
The Smart Wrap concept will deliver shelter, climate control, lighting, information display and power
with a printed and layered polymer composite. Smart Wrap as a futuristic building material could replace
all existing interior and exterior wall materials.
The ultrathin, ultra-light material consists of 6 layers; an applied layer of carbon nanotubes that gives it
rigidity, four organic “smart” layers that change the appearance of your house, control circuitry, change
material for thermal regulation, provide environmentally-friendly and inexpensive power to the wall and
to the whole building or other application, and a PEN/PET substrate that holds them all together and
protects them from the elements.
The benefits from using such potential technology applications could,

allow a person to “program” and reconfigure his house quickly and inexpensively to suit his changing
needs, tastes, and fashions,
be portable (take own home with you when you move),
save enormously on heating/cooling/lighting energy and provide it with renewable solar sources,
eliminate the need for environmentally destructive, bulky and building materials.
Smart non-construction materials
Smart glass
Smart glass is a category of glazing materials that changes its light-control
properties in reaction to an external stimulus [24], known also as switchable
glazing, dynamic glazing and chromogenics, smart glass is a relatively new
category of high performing glazing with significant clean technology
characteristics. It can be used in a wide range of everyday products such as
windows, doors, skylights, partitions, sun roofs, sun visors and more.
Expectations for growth in smart glass demand are very high. Smart Glass
can be manually or automatically tuned to precisely control the amount of
light, glare and heat passing through a window. There are two types of smart
glass, (table 2):

 Passive smart glass: does not involve an electrical stimulus. Rather, it reacts
to the presence of other stimuli such as light (Photochromic Glass) (PC) or
heat (Thermochromic Glass) (TC).
Smart green roofs:
• Conventional uses of green roofs aim at improving the heat island effect,
storm water management, air quality, and energy conservation.
• However, insulation is needed to keep heat out when it is too hot
outdoors or to keep heat inside when it is too cold outdoors. A smart
ventilation system that improves thermal performance by coupling or
uncoupling the thermal mass as necessary is proposed .
• To achieve this system has an insulated plenum in which a fan is
activated by temperature based rules. When the fan is on the plenum is
ventilated and when it is turned off the ceiling acts as an insulator.
However, the fan needs to be more powerful so that this effect is
transferred to the rest of the cell.
 NANO-
TECHNOL
OGY
 AEROGEL
NANOTUBES

NANOTECHNOLOGY

NANOPORES NANOPARTICLES
Nano technology – the new Change?
 The development of very durable, long-lived extremely lightweight construction materials.

 Novel insulation materials enable a thermal rehabilitation of buildings help improve energy efficiency.

 Treatment of surfaces including glass, masonry, wood or metal improves functionalities ,extend the lifetime of the
materials, conserve resources, for example water, energy and cleaning agents.

Nano-products :
(1) cement-bound construction materials,
(2) noise reduction and thermal insulation or temperature regulation,
(3) surface coatings to improve the functionality of various materials,
(4) fire protection. 
• An insulating material called aerogel, composed of silica nanoparticles separated by nanopores, is
mostly air, making it an excellent insulator. For example insulating the walls of your house would only
need about one third the thickness if you used this material instead of conventional insulation.
• Windows that hold the heat in better. Much of the heat loss in buildings occurs through windows.
Companies have developed windows with aerogel between the window panes. This can increase the
insulating ability of the windows to almost that of a typical building wall in situations where slightly
translucent windows are acceptable.
• Longer lasting concrete, researchers have found that carbon nanotubes can fill the voids that occur in
conventional concrete. Because it's these voids that allow water to penetrate into concrete, resulting
in the formation of cracks; including nanotubes in the mix stops the cracks from forming.
• Leveling compound used to prepare floors for laying tile that may eliminate the need for backer
board. This compound contains nanopores as well as rubber granules that reduce the chance of tile
cracking if it is laid down on material (such as plywood) that expands at a different rate than the tile.
• Paint that reduces the chance of mold and mildew growing on in moist areas of buildings such as
bathrooms or on the exterior siding. The paint contains nanoparticles of silver that inhibits the
growth of mildew and bacteria.
 Rice University researchers discovered that putting
nanotube pillars between sheets of graphene could
create hybrid structures with a unique balance of
strength, toughness and ductility 

Aerogel - The LIGHTEST MATERIAL ON EARTH!

HYDROPHOBIC MATERIAL
AEROBRICKS

INSULATION

Nanoparticles is defined as a particle that has at least
one dimension less than 100 nm. The size of the particle
is very important because at the length scale of the
nanometer, i.e. 10-9 m, the properties of the material
actually become affected.
The Nano-scale is the size range from approximately
1nm to 100nm.
• Nanofabrication Techniques and Tools –
“Top Down”
• Created by processing of bulk materials
• Current technology
• Exploiting properties of nanoscale structures (e.g.,
nanoparticles)
“Bottom Up”
• Designing and manipulating individual molecules from
“bottom up”
• Future technology, a.k.a. molecular manufacturing
• Materials and Properties – TiO 2 –
Fullerenes – Carbon Nanotubes – Silica –
Alumina – Magnesium and Calcium Nano-
particles – Clays – Aerogels

Application Areas – Concrete – Steel – Wood

– Asphalt – Glass – Coatings – Composites –
Fire Protection and Safety – Water – Energy

Definition/Value Characteristics Properties Impact

• Use less • Higher strengths • Compressive strength • Quality
• Higher functionality • Improved ductility • Flexural strength • Cost
• Last longer • Greater durability • Shear strength • Schedule
• Lower maintenance • • Improved recyclability • Ductility/toughness • Safety
Less ‘Loss of Use’ • Impermeability • Reduced
• Abrasion environmental
• E-Modulus impact
Application Areas

– Concrete
– Steel
– Wood
– Asphalt
– Glass
– Coatings
– Composites
– Fire Protection and Safety
– Water
– Energy
 Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Titanium Dioxide Nanopowderadded
The main Nanomaterials which could be used in
to concrete can give: Used for its ability to break down dirt or
Construction materials are:
pollution and then allow it to be washed off by
rainwateroneverythingfromconcretetoglass.
Nano Silica (SiO2) Nano Silica mixed in Concrete can
TiO2 is a white pigment and can be used as an
improve: MechanicalProperties
excellentreflectivecoating.
CanControlthedegradationof the fundamental C-S-H
It is incorporated, in sun-block to block UV light and it is added
(Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate) reactionofconcrete.
to paints, cements and windows for its sterilizing properties
Canblockwaterpenetrationandthereforelead
since TiO2 breaks down organic pollutants, volatile organic
toimprovementsindurability. They also increase strength
compounds, and bacterial membranes through
as well as offering thebenefit of
powerfulcatalyticreactions.
monitoringstresslevelsthroughthe
It gives self cleaning properties to surfaces to whichitisapplied.
measurementofsectionelectricalresistance.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) Carbon Nanotube addition to
concrete can give the benefits like:
CNT is used to strengthen and monitor concrete. The
addition of small amounts (1% wt) of CNT’s can improve
the mechanical properties of samples. Oxidized multi-
walled nanotubes (MWNT’s) show the best
improvements both in compressive strength (+ 25
N/mm2) and flexural strength (+ 8 N/mm2)
Nanocoatings: For Protection & Heat Insulation Coatings
are expected to constitute the largest application for
nanomaterials in construction. Architectural paints, water
sealers and deck treatments, and treatments applied during
fabrication, such as scratch-resistant coatings on vinyl or
wood flooring are meant for protection.
VariousNanocoatingscanprovide:
FireProtection HeatInsulation CorrosionProtection
Fire Protective & Heat Insulating Coatings “Thermo-S” is
a real alternative to all Heat-insulating Technologies
Advantages:The coating can be applied on metals, plastics,
concrete, brick, wood and any other brick building
materialinanydryweather. Provides excellent protection
against frost penetration.
Protectsthesurfaceagainstcondensateappearing.
Featuresexcellentrepaircapability. Does not sustain the
burning and stops spreading theflame.
Reducesfinancialandenergyexpenditures.
Greatlyenlargetheoperationlifeofpipelines.
Isecologicallysafe.
Thermo-S: Product Description
THERMO-S is an atmospheric-resistant energy-efficient
paint-coating consisting of microscopical ceramic balls
which are in a suspension state in a liquid composition of
synthetic rubber, polymers and inorganic pigments.
This can provide the ultimate economical effect while
solving any heat, noise damp, proof problem as well as
corrosion and fire resistance.
The Product can be manufactured on the fabric in a
flexible roll or deposited onto plates of required thickness
& quality.
Blister-DM: Heat insulating atmosphere-resistant
Blister-DM: Product Description
coating
It is designed for inner & outer applications of surfaces from
Advantages:
metal, wood, brick and other surfaces in the living, public and
The coating can be applied on metal,
production facilities as well as supply pipelines, tanks,
plastic, concrete, brick, wood.
storage buildings.
Can isolate the working surface from
water and air.
The coating is liquid compounding on the basis of organic
Increases Anticorrosive protection.
disolvents and consisting of polymers, inorganic pigments
Withstands fuels and lubricants,
and modified functional additives improving rheological and
dissolvents, alkaline and acid solutions.
adhesive characteristics of the coating.
Is ecologically safe.
Blister-DM provides Group 4 fire
protection efficiency on metals & Group 1
fire protection efficiency of wood.
APPLICATIONS OF NANO-TECHNOLOGY IN
BUILDING INDUSTRY

NANO TECHNOLOGY IS WIDELY USED IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL AS:

• CONCRETE
• STEEL
• WOOD
• GLASS
• COATING
• FIRE RESISTANCE
• STRUCTURAL MONITORING
NANO TECHNOLOGY IN CONCRETE
NANO TECHNOLOGY CAN MODIFY THE STRUCTURE OF CONCRETE MATERIAL AND FINALLY IMPROVES
IN PROPERTY
• BULK DENSITY
• MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE
• VOLUME STABILITY
• DURABILITY
• SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCRETE
• ADDITION OF NANO PARTICLES COULD COMPENSATE FOR ITS WEAKNESS IN
TENSION AND RESULT IN COCRETE WITH GREATLY IMPROVED STESS STRAIN
BEHAVIOUR .

• THE ADDITION OF NANO SILICA CAN IMPROVE THE DURABILITY OF CONCRETE

STRUCTURES EXPOSED TO DE-ICING SALTS.

• ADDITION OF SMALL AMOUNT (1%) OF CNT IMPROVES THE MECHANICAL

PROPERTY OF CONCRETE
NANO TECHNOLOGY IN STEEL
• FATIGUE IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT CAN LEAD TO THE
STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF STEEL SUBJECT TO CYCLIC LOADING,SUCH
AS IN BRIDGES OR TOWERS.

• STRESS RISERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INITIATING CRACKS FROM

WHICH FATIQUE FAILURE RESULTS.

• ADDITION OF COPPER NANOPARTICLES REDUCES THE SURFACE

UNEVENESS OF STEEL WHICH THEN LIMITS THE NUMBER OF STRESS
RISERS.
TEMPERATURE RESTRICTION
• ABOVE 750F STEEL STARTS TO LOOSE ITS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, AND AT 1000F, STEEL
LOOSES 50% OF ITS STRENGTH

• INFUSION OF STEEL WITH NANO SCALE COPPER PARTICLES COULD MAINTAIN STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY UPTO 1000F

• NEW INFUSED STEEL ALLOWS ULTRA HIGH STRENGTH , CORROSION RESISTANCE AND HAVE
GOOD SURFACE FINISH
 NANO TECHNOLOGY IN WOOD
• WOOD IS ALSO COMPOSED OF NANO TUBES OR NANO FIBRILS’ NAMELY,
LIGNOCELLULOSE(WOOD TISSUE) ELEMENTS WHICH ARE TWICE AS
STRONG AS STEEL .

• RESEARCHERS HAVE DEVELOPED A HIGHLY WATER REPELLENT COATING

BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE LOTUS AS RESULT OF THE INCORPORTION
OF SILICA AND ALUMINA NAO PARTICLES AND HYDROPHOBIC POLYMERS
THANK YOU