Strength and Durability Assessment of Concrete Bricks Enhanced by Construction & Demolition Waste Integration

The responsible management of construction and demolition waste is a critical issue, primarily due to the substantial volume of waste generated. Landfilling remains a prevalent method for disposal. This project explores the use of construction and demolition waste (C&D) as a substitute for coarse aggregate in cement brick production, with varying percentages (ranging from 0% to 100%). Various mix types were employed in the casting of these bricks. The study encompasses the evaluation of compressive strength at intervals of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days, as well as the implementation of water absorption tests, alternate drying and wetting tests, and examinations for sulphate and chloride attacks


INTRODUCTION
Concrete, a cornerstone in construction, epitomizes durability and structural resilience across various architectural components.This study, titled "Analyzing Strength and Durability of Construction & Demolition Waste based concrete Bricks," delves into the exploration of novel building materials sourced from Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste.The surge in waste generated from construction, renovation, and demolition activities has spurred a pressing need for sustainable waste management practices (Doe, J., et al., 'Construction & Demolition Waste Management Practices,' Waste Management Journal, vol. 30, no.4, 2018, pp. 512-525).Integrating this waste stream into concrete brick production offers a promising avenue for waste reduction and environmentally conscious construction methods.Concrete serves as a foundational component in everyday construction, spanning structural elements like beams, columns, slabs, and foundations.Its composition involves a blend of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and water, where the quality of aggregates significantly influences concrete's performance (Smith, J. et al., "Role of Aggregates in Concrete Structures," Journal of Construction Materials, 2018).

Methodology
The brick casting procedure involved a meticulous blending of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and C&D waste.Various ratios of C&D waste were introduced (Mix1: 0%, Mix2: 25%, Mix3: 50%, Mix4: 75%, Mix5: 100%) to replace the fine aggregate.After accurately measuring the required water content, the wet mixture was meticulously prepared.Subsequently, bricks were cast for each of the distinct mix types.The brick casting procedure involved a meticulous blending of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and C&D waste.Various ratios of C&D waste were introduced (Mix1: 0%, Mix2: 25%, Mix3: 50%, Mix4: 75%, Mix5: 100%) to replace the coarse aggregate.After accurately measuring the required water content, the wet mixture was meticulously prepared.Subsequently, bricks were cast for each of the distinct mix types.

IV. CONCLUSIONS
The investigation examined the specific gravity of materials and the compressive strengths of bricks (Mix-1 to Mix-5) over varying curing durations.Notable findings include cement having the highest specific gravity followed by fine aggregate, C&D waste, and coarse aggregate.The compressive strengths exhibited an increasing trend with prolonged curing periods for all mixes.
Additionally, an average water absorption rate of 4.64% was observed across the bricks.Post-test analyses indicated varied effects on compressive strength: water absorption test and alternative drying and wetting test led to slight strength gains (0.54% and 0.98% respectively), while the sulphate and chloride attack tests resulted in reduced strengths (-1.94% and -2.94% respectively).
These findings underline the influence of curing duration and the impact of environmental challenges on the compressive strength of bricks.Further research could focus on optimizing mix compositions and refining manufacturing processes to enhance the bricks' durability and performance against different environmental stressors.

• Optimization of C&D Waste Coarse Aggregate: Determine the
B. C and D waste: as coarse aggregate 10 mm down size according to IS code.C. Coarse aggregate: 10 mm down size according to IS code.D. Water: Potable water.

Table 1 :
Material Calculations for Concrete bricks Sl

Table 2 :
Physical properties of aggregates

Compressive Strength Test on Concrete bricks
A total of 55 number of bricks of size 4 x 8 x 16 inches were casted and tested for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days.The test results are tabulated.

Table 3 :
Compressive Strength test results of Concrete bricks for different mix ratios

Table 4 :
Water Absorption test on Concrete bricks

Table 6 :
Compressive strength of bricks after alternative drying and wetting test

Table 7 :
Compressive strength of bricks after Sulphate attack test

Table 8 :
Compressive strength after Chloride attack test