1. LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE
LETTING THE LIGHT IN
Under the guidance of:
Shri N S Ananda Rao
Additional Professor
MIT, MANIPAL
Presented by:
H K Sugandhini
Reg. No
MIT,MANIPAL

2. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION HISRORY TRADENAMES/BRANDNAMES
FEW EARLY APPLICATIONS
PRINCIPLE/CONCEPT
PRODUCTION PROCESS
TECHNICAL DETAILS
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES
CONCLUSION

3. LITRACON INTRODUCTION
LiTraCon ("light transmitting concrete") is a translucent concrete building material. Made of fine concrete embedded with 4% by weight of optical glass fibers
 Litracon™ presents the concept of light transmitting concrete in the form of a widely applicable new building material.

4. LITRACON HISTORY
This product was invented by a 27 year old, Hungarian architect by the name Áron Losonczi.
He came up with the concept while studying at the Royal University College of Fine Arts in Stockholm. Losonczi attributes his idea to a work of art he saw in Budapest.
The art installation was made of glass and ordinary concrete, and the idea of combining the two struck him and therefore decided to experiment by combining the two.
It was developed in 2001 by him working with scientists at the Technical University of Budapest.

5. TRADENAMES/BRANDNAMES
LiTraCon is manufactured by the inventor's company, LiTraCon Bt, which was founded in spring 2004.
The head office and workshop is located 160 km from the Hungarian capital city of Budapest near the town of Csongrád. As of 2006 all LiTraCon products have been produced by LiTraCon Bt.
TRADENAMES/BRANDNAMES
The company marketing “translucent concrete” is a German based company called “LiTraCon”, presumably derived from the term “light transmitting concrete”.

6. EARLY FAMOUS APPLICATIONS
TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE :
Old Concept / New Technology

7. STOREY HALL ENTRANCE

8. ENTRANCEMELBOURNE CITY FOOTPATHS - Swanston Street

9. PRINCIPLE/CONCEPT
The days of dull, grey concrete could be about to end. A Hungarian architect has combined the world’s most popular building material with optical fiber from Schott to create a new type of concrete that transmits light.
“Thousands of optical glass fibers form a matrix and run parallel to each other between the two main surfaces of every block,” explained its inventor Áron Losonczi.
“Shadows on the lighter side will appear with sharp outlines on the darker one. Even the colours remain the same. This special effect creates the general impression that the thickness and weight of a concrete wall will disappear.”

10. PRODUCTION PROCESS
It is manufactured as a prefabricated block. The concrete is embedded with thousands of optical glass fibres. These fibres form a matrix and run parallel between the two main surfaces.
The fibres make up only a small proportion of the total volume of the block; approximately 4%. These fibres mingle within the concrete, and because of their size, become a structural component, similar to a conventional aggregate. The surface of the material therefore retains the appearance of homogeneous concrete.
The most important requirement for the success of the product is assurance the fibre optic strands make contact with both surfaces; otherwise it looses the ability to transmit. An uninterrupted passage through the concrete is paramount.
They are able to achieve this by using long moulds, which are filled with a thin layer of concrete, before layers of fibre optic strands and more concrete are added until the mould is full. From the long moulds, the product can be removed, and then cut to length accordingly, effectively assuring the strands span the length of the block.

11. CONTINUED
The fiber diameters range from 2 microns to 2 millimeters. By using fibers of different diameters, LiTraCon designers can achieve different illumination effects. Varying the size of the blocks, however, doesn’t change the effect. So far, LiTraCon has made continuous concrete beams up to 20 meters long, and the fibers transmit light the entire length.
The product is able to have a very consistent finish like ordinary concrete, or an unpredictable, ever changing, weather influential, ephemeral quality.
In order for this product to become translucent, someone or something must be situated in front of it and when light is shone from behind, a shadow can be seen clearly on the other side.
The application technique for this product is solely in prefabricated block form. The complexity in ensuring fibre strands span the length of the block from surface to surface eliminates the possibility of it being used as an in situ material. The light transmitting properties are solely dependant upon contact being made with both surfaces.

12. TECHNICAL DETAILS Technical Specifications
Form : prefabricated blocks / panels
Components : concrete, optical fibre
Fibre Ratio : max 5%vol
Density : 2100 – 2400 kg/m3
Compressive strength : a) 49 N/mm2
: b) 31 N/mm2
: c) 56 N/mm2
Bending Strength : 7.7 N/mm2
Block Size
Thickness : 25 – 500 mm
Width : max 600 mm
Height : max 300 mm
Finish : polished
Heat Insulation : possibility

13. COMPARISION WITH GLASS
DIFFERENCE B/W TRANSPARENT AND TRANSLUCENT
In the field of optics, transparency (also called pellucidity or diaphaneity) is the physical property of allowing light to pass through a material; translucency (also called translucence or translucidity) only allows light to pass through diffusely. The opposite property is opacity. Transparent materials are clear, while translucent ones cannot be seen through clearly.
Glass is very brittle in nature and does not have tensile strength as that of optical fibres. However use of glass has become inherent in today’s world because of its pleasing appearance and improved aesthetics.

14. APPLICATIONS

15. ARTISTIC INSTALLATION
In fact, to date the largest project exhibiting the technology is an artistic installation, called the “European Gate” (2004) which was designed to mark the celebration of Hungary joining the European Union (EU).
It is located at the public entrance of Fortress Monostor in the Hungarian town of Komárom by the River Danube. This is a most impressive piece, as it works in conjunction with a visual lighting display, and is interactive.

16. LOAD BEARING STRUCTURE
The intended application for this product is in the building industry for walls.
Used in this form, both sides, and the thickness are visible. It can be used in both interior and exterior situations and impregnations upon the surface are possible.
It is possible for the product to be used as a load bearing structure. It can therefore contain reinforcement. The fibre optic strands are flexible and can bend around the reinforcing mesh.
As light only travels from one end of the fibre through to the other, the mesh would remain invisible within the concrete.

17. HEAT INSULATION It is able to withstand all weather conditions.
Due to concrete’s excellent insulating properties, it could potentially become a highly sought after product in arid climates.
where it could protect against desert heat, whilst letting through some sunshine.

18. FLOORS
HUNGARYLiTraCon WAS FIRST USED AS THE SURFACE OF A SQUARE IN INNERSTOCKHOLM

19. PAVEMENTS
The first project - during the day the blocks appear as concrete pavement, but at sunset they start to shine thank to the light sources placed under them. Aringed light pattern took shape around the main square as dark came.

20. WALLS
THE FIRST ‘’REAL’’ APPLICATION OF LiTraCon WAS IN A PRIVATE HOUSE IN BUDAPEST DURING SUMMER 2004

21. Litracon could be suitable for internal partitions or artistic enhancements. This new material would definitely add to overall enhancement of architecture or interior design. It would be interesting to see if someone dared to use it to build a whole house though. This would be one see-through buidling to look forward to!

22. TRANSLUCENT LAMP

23. ADVANTAGES
The fundamental basics of buildings is to provide shelter and protection to people. Unless it is an office space or workstation, most people need an enclosed space for personal living and privacy. However, against conventional practices, Litracon (Light Transmitting Concrete) which can be used for residential and commercial
As the glass fibres are precisely parallel with each other there is no loss of light. The  distinct shadow of a person can be seen.
Their movement is clear to see. As the wall is as tough as a normal concrete wall there are security advantages in its use.

24. About 4% of the wall is the glass fibres, and the wall could be  be up to 20 metres long! A four metre high Europe Gate was built from the stuff in 2004 in the Hungarian town of Komarom.
Combination of being almost unbreakable yet translucent
HEAT INSULATION and saving of day light make this product more popular.

25. continued
Colours and textures can be customised and further develop in accordance to the demand of the market. However, conventional colour and textures are still available in their original context. But textures varies in design requirements.

26. DRAWBACKS
The fact the product can not be poured in situ, is a limiting factor, however, it is a precision material and the correct procedures need to be followed.
It would be extremely important for the company to ensure the integrity of the optic strands. If they were to break within the product the light transmitting capability would almost certainly be void. This would deliver a standard concrete appearance.
Samples of the product can be obtained from the company via their online site.

27. Costing of this product is extremely difficult
Costing of this product is extremely difficult. The company has only been manufacturing the product for few years, and maintains that until it is industrially manufactured they are unable to provide an official quotation. It is however, possible to request a non-series quotation from them.
The pursuit of improved concrete materials continues. How much of the world adopts these new types of concrete depends on numerous factors, including whether the materials meet technical needs, how much they cost, and whether big-time architects and designers adopt them.

28. LitraconT Building Blocks come in a size of 600 by 300 by 100mm
LitraconT Building Blocks come in a size of 600 by 300 by 100mm. The costing for each piece is EUR 315.-/pcs. Lead time for delivery is 9 months earliest. That’s a long time isn’t it?
A problem is that the material is very expensive to make in quantities big enough for a building. At present the LitraCube is available. It consists of four interlocking panels forming a hollow cube, as a lamp, for 595 Euros. Perhaps it could be used also as a “window” for an interior room.

29. CONCLUSION
The product is intended to be primarily used in the building and construction industry; however its properties make it a very attractive material for all designers alike, particularly artist.
Considering the product uses conventional concrete, it has the same variety of finishes. It can be prefabricated in a range of colours by addives, and can even be polished to a highly glossed finish.
How much of the world adopts these new types of concrete depends on numerous factors, including whether the materials meet technical needs, how much they cost, and whether big-time architects and designers adopt them.
The efforts to bring concrete to new heights of function and form, however, is almost certain to transform the traditional perception of concrete as a cold, drab, low-tech material. Its use is likely to extend as far into the future as it reaches into the past.

30. CONTINUED
Perhaps this is a product whose day will come if the cost of optical fibres is able to come down drastically.

31. REFERENCES WWW.GIZMAG.COM WWW.DESIGN-BUILD NETWORK.COM WWW.LITRACON.HU
NETWORK.COM
( LA STRUCTURES & MATERIALS)