S.K. Sekar

Bio: S.K. Sekar is an academic researcher from VIT University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Environmental science & Lime mortar. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 19 publications receiving 253 citations.

Study on the performance enhancement of lime mortar used in ancient temples and monuments in India

Abstract: Lime is arguably the world first true green and versatile building material. The traditional lime binder offers greater durability but less strong compared to cement. The objective of the study is to improve the strength parameters of lime using traditional herbs. Lime mortar prisms (mix proportion: 1:2 i.e., one part of lime to 2 parts of sand) were cast after 15 days of fermentation with traditional herbal extract [aqueous extract of oonjalvalli ( Cissus glauca Roxb.), pananchikaai ( Cochlospermum religiosum ), kulamavu ( Persea macrantha ), gallnut ( Terminalia chebula ) and palm jaggery (from Borassus flabellifer )] and tested for its Flexure, Tension and Compressive strengths. The lime mortar prism fermented with plain water was used as control. The transverse strength of herbal lime mortar (5% herbs) is 1.6 times greater than lime mortar fermented with plain water. Besides, there was an increase in the tensile strength by three folds, due to elastic nature of herbal lime mortar. The compressive strength is greatly enhanced up to 2.5 times on the addition of 5% herbs. This may be due to the fact that herbal extract enhanced the density of lime mortar by bringing the particles of lime mortar closer to each other, thereby producing a more compact mass. Traditional structures built with lime mortar, which are more than 4,000 years old like Mohanjo-Daro is still a heritage monument of Indian civilization. It is more appropriate to blend the traditional concept with modern structures. The present work may also help in reviving ancient monuments.

Characterization of Hydraulic Lime Mortar Containing Opuntia ficus-indica as a Bio-Admixture for Restoration Applications

Abstract: Many successful and long lasting structures that contain lime mortars are hydraulic in nature. Organic admixtures are added to lime mortar mix to modify their fresh and hardened state properties. The present work proposes plant extract as bio-admixture for repair mortar towards the protection of heritage structures. The effect of cactus extract on the properties of hydraulic lime mortar is studied. Mortar´s composition is selected with respect to the composition of historic mortars and modern restoration practice. Cactus extract was added to the lime sand mixture with varying concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and with different fermentation periods of 0, 1, and 2 days The consistency and workability of modified mortar, mechanical behavior, water absorption, porosity, and water/salt absorption through capillary rise, salt crystallization have been studied. Micro structural properties of the resulting mortar have been evaluated by XRD and FT-IR to identify their mineralogical composition and ...

Shear resistance of high volume fly ash reinforced concrete beams without web reinforcement

Abstract: The shear strength of reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement made with high volume fly ash used as cement replacing material. The mix proportions of 1:1.433:2.094 with 0.32 water/binder ratio was adopted in this study. The shear span to depth (a/d) 2.50 was kept constant throughout the experiments. The longitudinal tensile steel reinforcement 0.58%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 2.95% was used in the RC beam specimens. The mechanical properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength were also studied along with beam specimens. The experimental shear stress values were compared with control concrete, codes of practices and other empirical formulae.