Light-Transmitting Concrete as a Sustainable Building Material: A Review
摘要
The structural characteristics of normal concrete meet the innovative material Light-Transmitting Concrete (LTC) through integration of optical fibers for the transmission of natural light. The assessment reviews fifty peer-reviewed studies which analyze the effects of optical fiber distribution patterns together with volumetric ratios on compressive strength, flexural strength, thermal insulation and durability performance. The incorporation of optical fibers creates minor mechanical performance reductions yet careful arrangement of fibers with supplementary cementitious materials succeeds in boosting the daylight energy capture abilities of LTC products. These studies demonstrate LTC panels enhance both thermal efficiency and lighting reduction and as a result decrease operational energy levels in buildings. Several obstacles impede wider usage of this technology because building production costs remain high while long-term durability varies by climate zone and quality optical fiber suppliers are scarce on the market. The review proposes several solutions that involve implementing new testing standards while developing large-scale production systems alongside polymer-based protection methods for the optical fibers. This publication explains how LTC represents a sustainable building material through research avenues focused on addressing present knowledge gaps which can help its adoption as a component of contemporary environmentally friendly architecture.