Annual Transmittance Behavior of Light-Transmitting Concrete with Optical Fiber Bundles

Abstract

This study characterizes the transmittance behavior of structural light-transmitting concrete under natural sunlight. The experimentation involves the use of a novel test setup and a detailed analysis considering the variation and dependence on time of day, month of the year and seasonal variations. The test set consisted of 28 variations of fiber configurations, with two different diameters, spacing and bundling techniques used to increase the area of fibers while maintaining spacing to aid the placing of concrete without compromising on transmittance. The study provides a real-time observational understanding of the behavior of light-transmitting concrete, a result usually obtained by modelling and simulation. The statistical analysis helps in understanding the impact of various variables as well as their interrelationships, which can help in design optimization. Based on the behavior as well as the stipulations of standards, the applicability of the material to various structural applications has been identified.