Browsing by Author "Dharmaratne, P.D."

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Determination of Shrinkage of Mud Concrete
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2024-10) Kuruppu, K.D.S.; Dharmaratne, P.D.; Galabada, H.G.
The research study systematically examined the shrinkage of mud concrete, aiming to evaluate its potential as an eco-friendly construction material. It investigated the influence of water-retarder admixture and coir fiber additions on dimensional changes, utilizing ASTM C157 as the test method. The study is required to address knowledge gaps in mud concrete shrinkage characteristics and provide guidance for its sustainable construction application. Three primary objectives were identified: analyzing shrinkage, determining optimal curing times for shrinkage minimization, and assessing the impact of fibers and admixtures on the shrinkage process. The mix design incorporated locally available soil, ordinary Portland cement, coconut fiber, water, and a water-retarder admixture (Plastolith 55R) to improve workability and structural integrity. Results indicated a consistent length reduction in all mud concrete compositions over time, with the water-retarder admixture and coir fiber effectively mitigating shrinkage. However, fiber addition was observed to increase shrinkage, necessitating further investigation. Wet curing conditions significantly reduced shrinkage compared to dry conditions, underscoring the importance of moisture content during curing. The study concluded by highlighting the crucial role of water-retarder admixture in reducing mud concrete shrinkage and enhancing longterm performance. It acknowledged the observed increase in drying shrinkage rate with fiber addition, emphasizing the need for additional research into underlying processes. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into sustainable construction practices by advocating for judicious additive use to optimize mud concrete compositions and calls for further research to explore fundamental mechanisms influencing shrinkage.
Open Access
Material Wastage on Cost Overrun in Construction Projects: An Impact Study Carried Out in Sri Lanka
(SLIIT, Faculty of Engineering, 2025-02) Kothalawala, N.T.B.; Malkanthi, S.N.; Dharmaratne, P.D.
Cost overruns are a prevalent issue in construction industry, and material wastage is recognized as one of the key contributory factors of it. Against that background, this research investigates the impact of material wastage on cost overruns in construction projects experienced in Sri Lanka. It strives to achieve the objective of providing insights into the relationship between material wastage and cost overruns and identifying potential strategies to mitigate its impact. The research methodology developed in this concern involves a comprehensive literature review to establish a theoretical premise of material wastage and cost overruns in construction projects. The data about the issue was collected through surveys, interviews, and site inspections of a series of ongoing and completed construction projects in Sri Lanka. Later, the data was analyzed statistically to determine the extent of material wastage and its impact on cost overruns. The findings achieved thereby reveal a significant correlation between material wastage and cost overruns in construction projects in Sri Lanka, highlighting that inefficient project planning, inadequate supervision, lack of skilled labour, and ineffective procurement practices contribute to material wastage, which ultimately leads to cost overruns. The financial implications of this situation are substantial and affect project budgets and profitability. Based on the research findings, the paper strives to make recommendations for strategies to mitigate material wastage and reduce cost overruns in construction projects. These include improved project planning and scheduling, enhanced supervision and training, effective procurement and inventory management, and adoption of sustainable construction practices.
Open Access
Waste-based composites using post-industrial textile waste and packaging waste from the textile manufacturing industry for non-structural applications
(Elsevier, 2024-09-26) Sulochani, R.M.N.; Jayasinghe, R.A.; Priyadarshana, G.; Nilmini, A.H.L.R.; Ashokcline, M.; Dharmaratne, P.D.
The textile industry significantly contributes to environmental pollution, generating substantial amounts of waste. The prevailing linear model exacerbates this issue, accumulating a significant portion of the waste in landfills. This research aimed to tackle these challenges by developing value-added composites from postindustrial textile waste and packaging materials, for non-structural building applications. To achieve this, shredded polyester textile waste fibers served as the reinforcement, while waste packaging was used as the matrix. Varying fiber-matrix weight percentages seven composite types were developed. The physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the composites were evaluated. The findings indicated that these composites exhibited properties comparable to those of commercial partition boards. Notably, composites with fiber weight percentages of 7.5 % and 10 % demonstrated the most favorable performance among the tested variations. Emphasizing the application of sustainable chemistry, this study highlights the potential of these composites to develop substitute materials for non-structural building applications. Moreover, it presents a promising solution to address the textile waste management challenge and value-added materials for the construction industry in a developing context.