Experimental feasibility for the incorporation of solid waste aggregates in masonry hollow blocks

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of three different solid waste materials sawdust, polystyrene, and rubber as waste aggregates for replacement of mineral aggregates in the Lebanese hollow. The experimental work was focused on investigating different types and ratios of wastes aggregates to be used in the hollow blocks for determining their thermal performance and their mechanical behavior. The results proved that the blocks with recycled aggregates were much more thermally efficient than the regular hollow block but less efficient structurally. While the regular block was found to have a thermal resistance of 0.156 m² K W^–1, the recycled aggregates mixture blocks presented thermal resistances varying between 0.152 m² K W^–1 and 0.219 m² K W^–1 for 1.5 L aggregates, between 0.181 m² K W^–1 and 0. 245 m² K W^–1 for 2 L aggregates, and between 0.217 m² K W^–1 and 0. 266 m² K W^–1 for 2.5 L aggregates. On the other hand, the addition of solid waste aggregates was found to reduce the compressive strength load from about 3.2 MPa for the normal block to a range of 1.2 to 2 MPa for the recycled aggregates mixture blocks. Furthermore, the economic analysis proved that the cost of these blocks is very competitive making them a potential innovative and marketable product.

Keywords:

• Lebanese concrete hollow block
• thermal resistance
• mechanical resistance
• solid waste aggregates
• economic analysis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.