Experimental Study on Light Transmitting or Translucent Concrete by Using Optical Fibre

Abstract

Light transmitting concrete is also known as translucent concrete, is an innovative building material that integrate optical fibre or transparent resins to enable light penetration while maintaining structural integrity. This material is developed by embedding optical fibers or other light conducting elements into a fine grained concrete matrix allowing natural or artificial light to pass through. The concept of light transmitting concrete is rooted in the principle of optical fibre technology, where fibres embedded in the concrete matrix transport light from one side to the other with minimal loss. The resulting material offers a unique combination of strength, durability and aesthetic appealthis technology has gained significant attention in modern architecture and interior design due to its ability to enhance energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours. The key benefits of light transmitting concrete include improve illumination in interior spaces, aesthetic enhancement and sustainability. It is particularly useful in application such as facades, partitions, flooring and artistic installation. Additionally, it contributes to green buildings initiates by optimizing natural light usages and reducing energy consumption. Despites its advantages, challenges such as high production costs, complex manufacturing processes, and limitations in load-bearing applications need to be addressed for wider adoption. This paper explores the properties, manufacturing techniques, advantages, limitations, and potential applications of light transmitting concrete.

Introduction

Light transmitting concrete (LTC), invented by Hungarian architect Aron Losonczi in 2001 as "LiTraCon," is a concrete building material embedded with optical fibers that allow light to pass through opaque concrete. These fibers transmit light via total internal reflection, creating unique light patterns on surfaces and reducing the need for artificial lighting, thus saving energy.

Optical fibers, composed of a core, cladding, and protective coating, are uniformly distributed through the concrete, typically occupying 4-5% of its volume. While fibers slightly reduce the compressive strength of concrete, proper mix design, curing, and fiber placement maintain structural integrity.

LTC offers benefits including natural lighting in difficult spaces, enhanced aesthetics with customizable light effects, privacy with transparency, durability, fire resistance, and supports sustainable building by lowering energy consumption. It is suitable for diverse architectural applications like walls, facades, partitions, and artistic installations.

Conclusion

Overall, LTC combines strength, energy efficiency, and innovative design, making it a promising material for modern, sustainable construction.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 G. Abha Dhoke, Aditya Amre, Sejal Nehare, Mrunali Dalal, Prof. Praful Misal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.