3 research outputs found
Application of Recycled Waste Materials for Highway Construction: Prospect and Challenges
Industrialization and continuous increase in population growth have contributed
immensely to various kinds of solid waste generation which most times are
indiscriminately dumped. These activities have negative effects resulting in
environmental pollution which could be a menace to the environment.
Moreover, to preserve the environment, many researchers have made efforts to
ensure that some of these wastes are recycled and utilized in the production of
various alternative materials as a means of sustainable technology. Among
several alternative materials for construction, some of these wastes are
considered to be very useful.
This study examines the various recycled waste materials that can be adopted for
construction, including their prospects and challenges. Some of the recycled waste
materials examined are plastic waste, mill tailings, geopolymers, waste glass, rubber
tyre waste, shingles, construction and demolition wastes (C&D) and slag. These
recycled materials have been accepted globally due to their characteristic properties
which made the materials suitable in the construction industry. This review also
examines some limitations relating to the adoption of these materials as alternative
construction materials for highway/pavement construction. However, it is generally
accepted that reuse of waste materials in construction industry has minimal
environmental impact and their exploration would have huge economic impact
Housing crisis: Waste glass-stabilized clay for use as fired clay bricks
Scarce and expensive housing and consumer waste disposal are global challenges in
today’s world. This study investigated the engineering properties of a clay stabilized with three
waste glass sizes (less than 75 μm, greater than 150 μm but less than 75 μm, and less than 300
μm but greater than 150 μm) for the production of burnt clay bricks for earth building
construction. Laboratory tests (sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and
compaction tests) were conducted on the clay soil sample, while firing shrinkage, water
absorption, unit weight and compressive strength tests were conducted on the fired clay bricks.
The unit weight, firing shrinkage and compressive strength decreased with an increasing
particle size of the waste glass in the fired clay bricks, while the fired clay bricks absorbed
more water as the particle size of its waste glass content decreased. The use of waste glass with
particle sizes less than 75 μm for stabilizing the clay was found to produce fired clay bricks
with the highest compressive strength. The compressive strength of the fired clay bricks
containing less than 75 μm particle sizes of waste glass was increased by 43.9% when
compared with the compressive strength of the fired clay bricks having no waste glass.
Consequently, waste glass with particle sizes of less than 75 μm is recommended for use in the
production of fired clay bricks. The use of waste glass, which could have been a nuisance to
the environment, is a potential way of improving the strength of bricks and making them more
affordable bricks and consequently, making housing more affordable