Achyut Kanvinde-The Functionalist Architect

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  Achyut P. Kanvinde (1916 –2002), the Indian architect with functionalist approaches with elements of Brutalist architecture. He was born in Achra, in Konkan region of Maharashtra in 1916. He believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix giving structural and spatial aspect would turn a design more sophisticated and faceted. ·        1935: Studied architecture under Claude Batley in Sir J. J School of Arts ·        1945: Completed Masters from Harvard, student of Walter Gropius (Thesis on Science Laboratories) ·        1947: Chief Architect of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) ·        1955: Formed Kanvinde and Rai LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS ·         1976: Received the Padma Shree ·         1974-75: Became the president of IIA (Indian Institute of Architects) ·         1985: Winner of IIA “Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal” ·         1993: Awarded the Great Masters Award from JK Industries Ltd ·         Part of the jury on the competition for Indira
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FIBRE-REINFORCED CONCRETE (FRC)

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In this world of daily new inventions, we discover new materials very often. One such material is FRC (Fibre-Reinforced Concrete), it contains fibrous materials (short discrete fibres uniformly distributed and randomly oriented) which increases structural integrity.
Use of fibre for reinforcement has been continued since Mesopotamian civilization, they used the straw to strengthen sun-baked bricks. Horsehair was employed in mortar and straw in mud bricks. Asbestos fibres were used in concrete in 1900. Researches continue even today to enhance the standard of concrete and different types of fibres like steel fibres, glass fibres, synthetic fibre (polypropylene and nylon fibres) and natural fibres (coir and hay).
Fibres may be circular or flat. Continuous meshes, woven fabrics and long wires or rods are not discrete fibres. FRC can be used on-ground floors, pavements and might be deemed for construction parts alone or hand-tied like beams, pliers, foundations, etc. It is more cost-effective than hand-tied rebar and increases tensile strength many times.
The amount of fibres added is measured in percentage of the entire volume of the composite which ranges from 0.1-3%. The aspect ratio of the fibre is the ratio of length and diameter which is often from 30-150. The shape, dimension and length of fibre are important. If the length is simply too long, the fibre tends to ball and creates workability problems. If the modulus of elasticity of the fibre is higher than the matrix (concrete or mortar binder) then it helps to hold the load by increasing tensile strength.
An example can be of short hair-shaped glass fibre, which is effective the first few hours after pouring the concrete and reduces cracking while the concrete is stiffening but there is no increase in concrete tensile strength.
EFFECTS OF FIBERS
Fibres control the plastic shrinkage and drying shrinkage in concrete. It reduces permeability thus reducing bleeding of water. Some types of fibres produce greater impact, abrasion and shatter resistance. But the fibres don’t increase flexural strength so it cannot replace moment resisting or structural steel reinforcement.
NECESSITY OF FIBRES
The fibres increase the tensile strength of concrete and reduce air and water voids. It increases the durability of concrete. Orientation and volume of fibres have a big influence on the creep performance of rebars. Graphite and glass have excellent resistance to creep. Add small, closely spaced and uniformly dispersed fibres to concrete for crack resistance.
Many new types of research are being carried out to develop better materials. An FRC sub-category named High-Performance Fibre Reinforcement Concrete (HPFRC) claims more resistance to cracking and is lighter than traditional concrete. More studies are being conducted to induce better material than we have got today, and who knows if the long run holds some advanced materials which can take building construction to a brand new level.

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