Recycling Of Construction Materials from the Debris of Demolished Structure

Abstract

The amount of construction and demolition waste generated in the country has increased considerably in recent years due to rapid pace of development. There is no uniform and systematic process followed in determining the total quantity of C&D waste generated or in collection, transportation and disposal of C&D waste anywhere in India. A study was thus carried out to determine the potential reuse of construction debris as a brick making material. The study investigates the potential for reusing construction debris as a replacement for sand. The brick characteristics, both strength and aesthetic tests such as water absorption test, compressive strength test and efflorescence are to be conducted on bricks made using construction debris and normal bricks which are to be compared. This project will thus be very useful in an eco- friendly environment.

In this minor project work, test on normal bricks is to be performed and data for various properties of bricks would be recorded. A set of ply mould will be used to produce rectangular bricks. Waste plywood’s would be used to accommodate size of 200mm x 100mm x 100mm. Construction waste is to be collected from nearby sources and bricks were to be made from clay, plastic fibre and powdered debris by 0%, 10%, 20%, 40% debris by weight. The clay/debris/fiber were to be mixed together by hand & kneaded into the moulds in thin layers by applying the hammering motion using a steel rod in order to compact it. The wet bricks were to be left over to air-dry in the moulds for over seven days in the sun.  Finally, the completely sun dried bricks were placed into a clamp. Compressive strength is to be determined for the 0%, 10%, 20%, 40% debris containing bricks using a UTM testing machine. A loading was applied to the bricks until they failed and maximum loading rate was recorded. The compressive strength was taken as the average result from a set of 3 tests for each respective brick type. Results will be incorporated and conclusion will be obtained.