Mechanical properties and optical efficiency of light-transmitting concrete using plastic optical fibre and industrial wastes

Construction is a global industry that is currently experiencing significant transformations. Today, the rise in population has led to an increase in energy consumption, alongside an increase in high-rise construction in urban areas. The shade from tall structures contributed to increased energy use. This provides a way to diminish energy consumption related to building illumination by implementing innovative approaches. The light-transmitting concrete, comes into light in this scenario. In the present study, the influence of different percentages of optical fibre on the distinct properties of light-transmitting concrete at the various curing ages was examined. The plastic optical fibre with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% was used in the concrete. The different mechanical properties and cost analysis of the various mixes were investigated. The optimized percentage of optical fibre (1%) was used with the industrial wastes, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (20%) and micro silica (10%), to study the performance of concrete. Results showed that the incorporation of plastic optical fibre (1%) with the industrial wastes, i.e., blast furnace slag at 20%, increased the strength by 17% while maintaining the light-transmitting characteristics of concrete as compared to the control mix. However, the use of optical fibre (1%) hiked the cost of construction by 40% due to the higher cost of optical fibre.