Ashwin M Joshi1, S.M. Basutkar2, Mangala Keshava3, S. Raghunath3, and K.S. Jagadish4
1) Research Scholar, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru (India)
e-mail: ashwinmjoshi@gmail.com
2) Asst. Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, R V College of Engineering, Bengaluru (India)
e-mail: somanath_basu@yahoo.co.in
3) Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BMS College of Engineering, Bengaluru (India)
e-mail: mk.civ@bmsce.ac.in ; raghunath.smrc@gmail.com
4) Retired Professor of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (India)
e-mail: ksjagadish@gmail.com
Keywords: Stabilized Adobe, Concrete Blocks, C&D Waste, Demolished Brick Masonry, Sustainable Construction, Masonry Units.
Abstract. Construction activities demand huge quantity of materials like aggregates, masonry units, cement, steel, water etc. The energy consumed in production and procurement of these materials is considerable, leading to negative impacts on the environment. To have a sustainable solution, low cost alternatives and energy efficient materials need to be explored and adopted. The 3R’s (reduce, re-use, recycle) of sustainability is one such means. The present study attempts to utilize construction and demolition (C&D) waste in the form of crushed demolished brick masonry (DBM) as an alternative to soil and fine aggregate in (a) stabilized adobe blocks and (b) concrete blocks respectively. Stabilized Adobe blocks were cast in various combinations; soil and fine aggregate were replaced by crushed C&D waste. Concrete blocks with varying percentage of C&D waste as fine aggregate of different sizes were cast. These masonry units were tested for their physical and mechanical properties and were compared with the properties of commercially procured burnt clay bricks and concrete blocks respectively for their suitability to be used as masonry units. Test results exhibited satisfactory engineering properties including strength characteristics, when soil was replaced in the order of 60%-80% in stabilized adobe and about 50% replacement of manufactured sand (M sand) by crushed C&D waste in the form of demolished brick masonry. The experimental program indicates suitability and potential of utilizing demolished brick masonry waste as partial replacement of soil in stabilized adobe and fine aggregate in concrete blocks. The process outlined in preparing masonry units is one way of handling the wastes in an effective manner.