Bio-active concrete tile

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to design and fabricate bio-active concrete tiles which encourage rapid plant coverage of building walls and urban spaces with vegetation. A design comprises two different types of tile, which one of them intends to be used as a planter for a variety of climbing vegetation. Through the process of designing a and manufacturing suitable mould for tiles, a complex macro pattern was developed to ensure water retention on the structural surface. The concrete properties were tuned in order to improve bioreceptivity of the tiles. The concrete was modified by changing the mix design and using a different type of hydraulic binder to fulfil the required condition for biological growth. Two main properties of concrete were considered in this work, the pH and porosity. The results of this thesis provide an alternative solution to the existing green wall systems by implementation of a bioreceptive cementitious material. The proposed solution creates an opportunity for further research on the aforementioned topic.

The aim of this thesis is to design and fabricate bio-active concrete tiles which encourage rapid plant coverage of building walls and urban spaces with vegetation. A design comprises two different types of tile, which one of them intends to be used as a planter for a variety of climbing vegetation. Through the process of designing a and manufacturing suitable mould for tiles, a complex macro pattern was developed to ensure water retention on the structural surface. The concrete properties were tuned in order to improve bioreceptivity of the tiles. The concrete was modified by changing the mix design and using a different type of hydraulic binder to fulfil the required condition for biological growth. Two main properties of concrete were considered in this work, the pH and porosity. The results of this thesis provide an alternative solution to the existing green wall systems by implementation of a bioreceptive cementitious material. The proposed solution creates an opportunity for further research on the aforementioned topic.