Optimization in Recipe Design of Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks by Incorporating Construction and Demolition Wastes

Abstract

Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks (ICEBs) have recently surfaced as a valuable and innovative inclusion among earthen building materials. They offer workable answers to the common problems encountered with burned bricks and cement blocks. The incorporation of cement as a stabilizer is a common practice to improve the properties of ICEBs. The clay content present in the soil significantly influences the characteristics and performance of ICEBs. Studies have shown that a soil composition consisting of approximately 25% clay and silt (finer particles) yields a higher compressive strength. Researchers frequently used river sand in their studies to address and reduce the finer content in soil. This particular study looked into techniques to make ICEBs (Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks) from construction and demolition wastes. Fine recycled concrete aggregate (FRCA) was used as a soil modification within the ICEBs as a part of this investigation. The urgent need to address the global climate crisis and encourage the adoption of products with low carbon emissions is what drives this approach. Although there are many other causes of pollution, ineffective management of construction waste is an important factor in making the problem worse. The three R's of waste management reduce, recycle, and reuse are suggested as a way to combat the threat of growing environmental construction and demolition waste. In order to regulate the adverse impact on the environment caused by construction waste and provide an equitable remedy to the issue of the lack of building materials, ICEBs are manufactured by mixing construction and demolition trash. Due to the inherent diversity of soil and the lack of a standardized mix design for the manufacturing of ICEB, several mix ratios were generated independently with the addition of sand and FRCA. Based on their respective maximum compressive strengths, two distinct optimum mix compositions were selected: one formulation using sand incorporated ICEBs and another formulation using FRCA in ICEBs. In order to permit additional testing, more bricks were subsequently produced utilizing both optimized mix formulations. Both types of ICEBs went through mechanical, durability, and thermal performance tests. Afterwards, microstructural analysis of were also carried out to validate the hydration products. In accordance to the test results, both ICEBs (sand-incorporated and FRCA-incorporated) possessed the best mechanical properties. Both ICEBs demonstrated enhanced mechanical, durability, as well as thermal efficiency when compared to first-class burnt clay bricks. The test findings clearly reveal that FRCA-incorporated ICEBs excelled sand-incorporated ICEBs when it comes to thermal performance. Therefore, use of FRCA as a sustainable alternative to natural sand in the ICEBs. A significant move towards a sustainable building industry that addresses environmental issues would be the use of ICEBs in masonry constructions simultaneously