The Trend: What's New for Civil Structures
Evolution is necessary. The world has to change for you to witness improvements and have a better standard of life. This is the premise that civil engineers and manufacturers use as they work together to deliver structures that meet your needs and stand the test of time. It all begins with the materials they use before transitioning to the design and construction phase. Civil structures must rely on technological advancement in the production of construction materials, utilities and design. On that note, emerging trends in civil structures focus on the new things you should opt go for when investing in these structures.
- Self-healing Concrete
Cement is popular for its strength and durability. It is the number one choice for many builders and engineers when they are working on civil structures such as bridges and tunnels. When building, fresh concrete needs a few days to heal. The mixture needs water and chemicals (in some cases) to enhance the healing process as the concrete solidifies. Sadly, you cannot tell how much water the concrete needs when healing. Your workers may end up using too much or little water, causing the concrete to crack after some time.
Self-healing concrete is here to resolve such issues. It enables engineers to use microcapsules containing microorganisms, which will develop and solidify when water enters a developing crack. It will prevent the concrete from further splitting and corroding the supporting steel.
- Photovoltaic Glazing
Photovoltaic glazing is another emerging element in the construction of civil structures. Roads, bridges and tunnels need energy for lighting to ensure safety for motorists and pedestrians. Stadiums and public recreational facilities need power for lighting and other purposes. Civic structures can use lots of energy because of their size, traffic levels or the duration within which people use energy-consuming utilities. You need photovoltaic glazing to reduce the cost of powering civil structures. The coatings transform the whole structure into a sun-powered platform that taps and stores solar energy.
- Active Footfall
The debate on sustainable sources of energy rages on as people look to produce and use energy in the most efficient way. Civil structures are part of the debate because they are among the high-energy users in various cities. With active footfall, you can put up a sustainable civil structure that generates energy from vibration and tremors caused by people's footsteps. Active footfall installation is ideal for areas with high levels of pedestrian traffic such as bus and train terminals.