Still, Gwilym T. (2007) Methods for reducing the cost of cementitious building components in developing countries, with particular reference to rainwater harvesting. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Cementitious building components, although widely used in low-income countries, are too expensive for many applications related to low-income housing.
This thesis explores three options for reducing component cost:
1. Use of local fine aggregates, often with clay contamination, instead of low-fines sands transported from a distance.
2. Improved designs, to achieve better material economy.
3. Change of production environment, from on-site to component prefabrication followed by transport to site.
Water storage tanks for rainwater harvesting were used as the example for component design, and as a case-study for considering the effect of changing the production environment. The work showed that:
In some cases, use of local aggregates will give a cost saving of around 10%.
Improved design can give significant reduction in materials usage, of up to 40%.
Off-site prefabrication of components, followed by on-site assembly to produce the desired product, does not seem preferable to the prevelant practice of entirely on-site production from raw materials. However, factory-based manufacture of complete products, followed by transport to site, has a number of attractions over entirely on-site production.
Out of the three options examined, improved component design offers the greatest benefits for the case study considered.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Cement composites -- Research, Water harvesting -- Developing countries, Building materials -- Research, Construction industry -- Costs
Official Date:	2007
Dates:	Date Event 2007 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Engineering
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Thomas, Terry H.
Description:	This is an abridged version for electronic use; lacks "Appendix A.1: Publications arising from materials research ratio".
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	295 leaves : ill. (some col.), charts
Language:	eng

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