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Previous earthquakes have proven that failure of framed structure particularly at joints of beam and column caused disastrous collapse in structures that are built without seismic codal provisions. Most of the traditionally built Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) framed structures existing are lacking adequate reinforcement at structural joints and these joints are shear deficient. The main objective of the research studies was to enhance behaviour and performances of exterior structural joints by retrofitting and testing for displacement-controlled reversed cyclic loading. The joints retrofitted exhibits higher levels of ultimate displacements, higher levels of ultimate capacity previous to failure and the joints failed prior to failure of column. The variable novelty in research were size and shape of mesh, woven mesh, mesh orientation and wrapping in all direction around joints, cementitious matrix laminates with aggregate chips less than 5 mm, epoxy resin to increase bond between old and new concreting and chicken wire mesh near to cover and displacement controlled reversed cyclic loading was applied to column. The experimental research work indicated that, retrofitting with woven wire mesh strengthening technique will enhance the displacement ductility, stiffness, energy dissipation and strain. Thus the proposed retrofitted method anticipated in predicting the shear strength of joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the enormously increasing population in metropolitan cities of India, most of the transmissions of ozone exhausting substances are expected from metropolitans, of which the building structures may contribute significantly. To limit these levels, one of the inevitable structures of the metropolitan plan is to adopt green buildings. In this regard, integration of Nano-enhanced Bio Phase Change Material (NeBPCM) in buildings is an innovative technology that has a high potential to reduce the thermal energy penetration into the buildings, The green buildings enhance the thermal comforts inside the building with energy conservation. A novel integration of NeBPCM composite is introduced to a Solid Concrete Hollow Block of size 400 mm x 200 mm x 100 mm. The experimental building of size 1 m x 1 m x 1 m is constructed to analyze the thermal effects of this phase change material (PCM) integration within the buildings. A drop in temperature is observed in PCM integrated building from 5.3°C to 1.1°C compared to that of building without PCM. The error between the measured data and numerical predictions is found to be within the range of 0.3°C and 1.6°C. The experimental investigations also revealed a reduction in maximum room temperature up to 5.3°C in the building integrated with NeBPCM vis-à-vis building without NeBPCM. Also, NeBPCM integration in building increased the temperature by 1.8°C when the outside ambient temperature averagely dropped below 23.6°C, thus improving the thermal comfort in the buildings all over the seasons. Therefore, NeBPCM integration in buildings is advantageous in terms of maintaining the room temperature to provide passive cooling of buildings with energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]