Affordable materials boost building strength up to 153% — AIT engineers pioneer low-carbon retrofits

Researchers at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) are finding practical and affordable ways to make buildings stronger and safer in earthquake-prone and rapidly developing regions. Their latest studies address two major global challenges — the high cost of construction materials and the vulnerability of older buildings — using innovative, low-carbon approaches that combine engineering science with community needs.

Tackling High Costs and Carbon Emissions in Building Materials

Modern strengthening materials such as carbon-fiber composites are highly effective but expensive and energy-intensive to produce, releasing almost 30,000 kilograms of CO₂ per ton. To reduce both cost and emissions, AIT engineers tested low-cost glass-fiber wraps costing less than USD 3 per square meter, a tiny fraction of the price of conventional carbon fiber.

When applied to reinforced concrete beams, these wraps increased strength by up to 46.9% and absorbed over 300% more energy than unstrengthened beams. The researchers also showed that using epoxy-based anchors improved bonding and prevented early failures — a key issue in low-strength concrete. These results show that affordable materials can deliver strong and reliable protection, making safety upgrades accessible to public and community buildings in developing nations.

AIT scientists also tested cotton rope as a renewable and biodegradable substitute for synthetic fibers. Wrapped around concrete columns, it improved compressive strength by 152% and strain capacity by nearly 15 times, offering an easy-to-install and environmentally friendly option. In parallel, combining ferrocement overlays with modern fiber composites was shown to increase load capacity by almost 50%, extending the service life of aging infrastructure with materials that are both low-cost and widely available.

Strengthening Heritage and Urban Buildings Against Earthquakes

Beyond new materials, AIT researchers are improving the safety of existing buildings — a process known as retrofitting, meaning the reinforcement of older structures to withstand hazards such as earthquakes.

In one study, the team developed a fiber-reinforced paint that can be brushed directly onto heritage masonry without altering its appearance. In shake-table tests, buildings coated with this paint withstood earthquakes 3.6 times stronger and dissipated six times more energy than unprotected ones — a breakthrough for protecting cultural landmarks in seismic zones.

For urban areas, AIT researchers, in collaboration with University of Tokyo, created a numerical optimization model to strengthen soft-story buildings — common mixed-use structures with weak ground floors. The model balances engineering safety with business and social factors, helping building owners choose cost-effective upgrades while maintaining usable space. Simulations showed that these optimized designs could resist ground motions equivalent to Japan Meteorological Agency intensity 6, which typically causes severe damage in unreinforced buildings.

Engineering Innovation with Social Purpose

Together, these studies present a blueprint for affordable and sustainable building safety. “Our goal is to make building safety accessible to everyone, especially in Southeast Asia where rapid urban growth and aging infrastructure pose real risks,” said Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic and Research, AIT. “By combining affordable materials with sound engineering, we can strengthen homes, schools, and heritage sites without high costs or complex technology. This research is about saving lives sustainably.”

By integrating cost-effective materials, green technologies, and community-based design, AIT researchers are proving that resilience need not be expensive. Their work demonstrates how innovation from Asia can help societies worldwide protect lives, preserve heritage, and cut carbon emissions — one building at a time.

References

1. Saingam, P., Ejaz, A., Gadagamma, C. K., Hussain, Q., Sua-iam, G., Chatveera, B., Maneengamlert, B., & Joyklad, P. (2025). Innovative approaches to rc deep beam strengthening: Evaluating low-cost glass fiber wraps against traditional cfrp solutions. Polymers, 17(6), 807. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060807
2. Joyklad, P., Krishna Gadagamma, C., Maneengamlert, B., Nawaz, A., Ejaz, A., Hussain, Q., & Saingam, P. (2024). Structural behavior of RC one-way slabs strengthened with ferrocement and FRP composites. Engineering Failure Analysis, 161, 108328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2024.108328
3. Saingam, P., Gadagamma, C. K., Hussain, Q., Hlaing, H. H., Suwannatrai, R., Qureshi, M. I., Khan, K., & Ejaz, A. (2025). Modeling and comparative analysis of sustainable cotton rope confinement: Full vs. STrip wrapping for enhanced concrete strength and ductility. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 22, e04134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04134
4. Htet, P. M., Ejaz, A., Gadagamma, C. K., Hussain, Q., Saingam, P., Khaliq, W., Sua-iam, G., Chatveera, B., & Suparp, S. (2025). Seismic strengthening of heritage masonry buildings using fiber-reinforced paint: Numerical validation and shake table testing for enhanced energy dissipation and safety. Journal of Building Engineering, 101, 111824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2025.111824
5. Timsina, K., Amatya, N., Gadagamma, C. K., & Meguro, K. (2024). Retrofitting solution for soft story mitigation in reinforced concrete frame buildings: A socio-technical approach using numerical optimization. Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami, 18(02), 2350040. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793431123500409