Can concrete trans mit or reflect light? Yes, it can and researchers at the civil engineering department of IIT Madras demonstrated it at the Open House 2008 held as part of the institution’s golden jubilee celebrations here on Sunday.
Litracon, the light transmitting concrete developed by them, using cement and optical fibre, was the centre of attraction in the stall set up by the civil engineering department.
“This type of concrete is not only cost effective but will help prevent major mishaps that can occur in street corners,” said Srikant Menon, a B.Tech student, who demonstrated how the light transmitting concrete worked.
This would also reflect the lights of vehicles coming from one direction to caution vehicles approaching from the other end, he added.
The concrete could replace mirrors and reflectors on the roads and also be used for erecting compound walls. The civil engineering department has also developed a quake resistant wall made up of sand packed in folded polymer sheets.
These walls could be used for foundations and basements in areas prone to earthquakes and landslips.
Among the other displays at the Open House were a sophisticated robot that could be used to carry out ISO prescribed tests on cars and another robot that could sense its way around without colliding with any object in its path.
The department of humanities and social sciences entertained the students, from the city schools and colleges, by conducting quizzes, games to test their language skill and poetry reading sessions.
The first ‘Open House’ was conducted 25 years ago to mark the Silver Jubilee celebrations of IIT Madras. This is the second such event and marks the Golden Jubilee of the institute.
Litracon, the light transmitting concrete developed by them, using cement and optical fibre, was the centre of attraction in the stall set up by the civil engineering department.
“This type of concrete is not only cost effective but will help prevent major mishaps that can occur in street corners,” said Srikant Menon, a B.Tech student, who demonstrated how the light transmitting concrete worked.
This would also reflect the lights of vehicles coming from one direction to caution vehicles approaching from the other end, he added.
The concrete could replace mirrors and reflectors on the roads and also be used for erecting compound walls. The civil engineering department has also developed a quake resistant wall made up of sand packed in folded polymer sheets.
These walls could be used for foundations and basements in areas prone to earthquakes and landslips.
Among the other displays at the Open House were a sophisticated robot that could be used to carry out ISO prescribed tests on cars and another robot that could sense its way around without colliding with any object in its path.
The department of humanities and social sciences entertained the students, from the city schools and colleges, by conducting quizzes, games to test their language skill and poetry reading sessions.
The first ‘Open House’ was conducted 25 years ago to mark the Silver Jubilee celebrations of IIT Madras. This is the second such event and marks the Golden Jubilee of the institute.
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