Article
Construction & Building Technology
Uma Chandru, A. Bahurudeen, R. Senthilkumar
Summary: River sand is widely used as fine aggregates in concrete, but its excessive mining has led to its prohibition in construction in several countries. Therefore, the review explores the potential reuse of different types of recycled fine aggregates from construction and demolition wastes as alternative fine aggregates in ordinary concrete and PPC concrete. The influence of recycled fine aggregates on various properties of concrete, such as workability, density, strength, and shrinkage, is comprehensively compared.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Rafael dos Santos Macedo, Carina Ulsen, Ana Y. Jacomo, Paula O. Figueiredo, Guilherme P. Nery, Daniel Uliana, Anette Mueller
Summary: The study extended the applications of powder pycnometry to determine the envelope density of fine recycled aggregates sand fraction, showing that the combination of PP and HePyc provides comparable results with mercury intrusion porosimetry analysis for medium sand fraction.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Seweryn Malazdrewicz, Krzysztof Adam Ostrowski, Lukasz Sadowski
Summary: The demolition of old concrete structures is increasing due to technical issues, end of service-life, and modernization plans. This process generates Concrete Construction and Demolition Waste (CC&DW), which is often transported and deposited in landfills if not recycled. Researchers have studied the use of recycled materials from CC&DW in Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC), particularly in the form of Recycled Coarse Aggregate (RCA), as it can significantly reduce waste. However, there is still a lack of complete understanding of the processes involved in SCC with RCA, necessitating further research.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rebeca Martinez-Garcia, Maria Isabel Sanchez de Rojas, Julia Ma. Moran-del Po, Fernando J. Fraile-Fernandez, Andres Juan-Valdes
Summary: The research aims to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating FRCA from urban C&DW into the production of cement-based mortars and improving their quality using simple processing techniques. Mechanical properties of four mortar mixes were evaluated, showing that the optimal usage of FRCA is 25%.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Edyta Pawluczuk, Katarzyna Kalinowska-Wichrowska, Jose Ramon Jimenez, Jose Maria Fernandez-Rodriguez, David Suescum-Morales
Summary: Geopolymer concrete is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional concrete, as it is produced using waste materials instead of cement. The incorporation of treated recycled aggregates has a beneficial effect on the compressive strength of the concrete, but may also result in a slight increase in water absorption and peeling mass after freezing and thawing cycles.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rafael Robayo-Salazar, William Valencia-Saavedra, Ruby Mejia de Gutierrez
Summary: This article describes the recycling of coarse and fine fractions and powder from construction and demolition waste using alkaline activation technology. The study demonstrates the potential application of these CDW-based materials, such as mortars, concretes, and prefabricated units, in the construction sector. The results also show the environmental sustainability of alkali-activated CDWs compared to conventional materials based on OPC, with lower carbon footprint.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Haiyan Li, Yihui Zhang, Liyuan Wu, Yi Jin, Yongwei Gong, Angzhen Li, Jinxi Li, Fei Li
Summary: This study systematically evaluated the performance of recycled aggregates and natural aggregates as substrates in VFCWs, showing that recycled aggregates performed better in terms of TP and COD removal, and can reduce the cost of wetland construction.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mahdi Naeini, Alireza Mohammadinia, Arul Arulrajah, Suksun Horpibulsuk
Summary: This research investigates the static and cyclic characteristics of recycled glass (RG) as a supplementary material with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the rail track capping layer. Various laboratory testing schemes were designed to evaluate the geotechnical properties and long term performance of RG + RCA blends. The results showed that RG can be effectively used as a supplementary geomaterial in construction of rail track substructure.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Joao Pacheco, Jorge de Brito
Summary: This paper discusses the use of construction and demolition waste as coarse recycled aggregates for concrete, promoting circular economy and reducing landfill disposals. It emphasizes the need to ensure that the quality of recycled aggregates is suitable for concrete applications, highlighting the importance of preliminary separation during the production process.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
C. Colman, D. Bulteel, V Thiery, S. Remond, F. Michel, L. Courard
Summary: Research shows that the consequences of sulfate attack are influenced by gypsum content, porosity, temperature, and alkalinity, while the reaction of sulfate attack is affected by the source of sulfates and the type of cement.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jeonghyun Kim, Anna M. Grabiec, Andrzej Ubysz
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of different recycled concrete materials on the mechanical properties of concrete. The results show that the concrete properties deteriorate with increasing replacement ratio of recycled materials.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Andres Juan-Valdes, Desiree Rodriguez-Robles, Julia Garcia-Gonzalez, M. Isabel Sanchez de Rojas Gomez, M. Ignacio Guerra-Romero, Nele De Belie, Julia M. Moran-del Pozo
Summary: The study focuses on the reuse of ceramic materials from construction and demolition waste in recycled concrete mixtures, showing that these materials exhibit comparable performance to conventional concrete, demonstrating their potential contribution to the circular economy.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yu-Xuan Liu, Tung-Chai Ling, Kim-Hung Mo
Summary: The paper reviews recent publications on the use of coarse and/or fine RCA in SCC. Challenges arise from the high-water absorption and porous structure of RCA when producing high-fluidity mixtures.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS METALLURGY AND MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mujaheed Yunusa, Xiaoshan Zhang, Peiqiang Cui, Xiaowu Tian
Summary: This research studied the treatment and evaluation of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) using laboratory testing methods to assess their reuse in asphalt pavement. By combining mechanical, chemical, and thermal treatment, the researchers effectively removed the cement paste adhering to the RCAs. The treated RCAs showed improved quality compared to the non-treated samples, and HCl was found to be the optimal acid for the treatment.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Anil Kul, Behlul Furkan Ozel, Emircan Ozcelikci, Muhammed Faruk Gunal, Huseyin Ulugol, Gurkan Yildirim, Mustafa Sahmaran
Summary: The study aims to develop a fast, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution for recycling construction and demolition waste (CDW) into building materials suitable for accelerated construction and housing in developing countries and disaster-prone areas. The feasibility of including recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in geopolymer mortars entirely made from CDW was investigated. Mechanical performance and environmental impact of the geopolymer mortars were evaluated, showing that CDW-based geopolymer mortars provide the same compressive strength with reduced CO2 emissions and energy consumption compared to Portland cement-based mortars.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Mehdi Yousefi, Vajihe Khalili, Nima Gharaei-Moghaddam, Jorge de Brito
Summary: This study evaluates the effect of coconut palm leaf ash (CPLA) on polypropylene fibre-reinforced concrete (PP-FRC). CPLA can increase the compressive strength of PP-FRC in certain ratios and significantly reduce the permeability of concrete. However, it is not recommended as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in cases where the tensile strength of the concrete structure is important.
IRANIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-TRANSACTIONS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ana Ferreira, Manuel Duarte Pinheiro, Jorge de Brito, Ricardo Mateus, Vitor Sousa
Summary: This study provides water intensity indicators for retail buildings and finds that variables such as number of workers, store size, location, and sales revenue have a statistical influence on water intensity indicators.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Sara Dias, Antonio Tadeu, Joao Almeida, Julieta Antonio, Jorge de Brito
Summary: The present study investigates the steel-concrete bond of concrete mixes containing wood waste to promote their wider application in structural designs. Preliminary tests were conducted, and two mixes were selected which partially replaced aggregate with wood chip and sawdust. The steel-concrete bond length and reinforcement diameter were evaluated to assess the shear strength of steel bars and two-wire strands. The incorporation of wood increases the friction component, leading to better mechanical interaction. The bond resistance of the wood-concrete composites is significantly higher than the reference, and the creep effect is not enhanced by the presence of wood.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ghandy Lamaa, David Suescum-Morales, Antonio P. C. Duarte, Rui Vasco Silva, Jorge de Brito
Summary: Three industrial aluminosilicate wastes were studied as precursors for alkali-activated concrete. Different combinations of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate solutions were tried to find the optimum solution for mechanical performance. The precursors showed reactivity when alkali-activated, and mixes with slag and glass exhibited compressive strengths of almost 40 MPa.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lucas Sequeira, Javier Forero, Miguel Bravo, Luis Evangelista, Jorge de Brito
Summary: The durability performance of sustainable concrete with the incorporation of reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) and fly ash (FA) was evaluated. The partial replacement of cement with these two materials resulted in significant reduction of shrinkage and offers sustainability benefits. Both individual incorporation of MgO and FA, and their simultaneous incorporation were evaluated. Performance losses between 3% and 95% were obtained in all tests, however, the difference in performance relative to reference concrete tends to decrease over time.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Ghandy Lamaa, Antonio P. C. Duarte, Rui Vasco Silva, Jorge de Brito
Summary: This paper presents a literature review on the effects of accelerated carbonation on alkali-activated materials. It provides a better understanding of the influence of CO2 curing on the chemical and physical properties of alkali-activated binders. The changes in chemistry, mineralogy, and physical properties caused by induced carbonation are discussed, along with the influence of this curing method on the strength development of alkali-activated materials.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lucas Sequeira, Blas Cantero, Miguel Bravo, Jorge de Brito, Cesar Medina
Summary: In the construction industry, cement is the most widely used material. To improve sustainability, it is important to find more sustainable alternatives for cement. This study analyzes the mechanical properties of mortars containing recycled cement, fly ash, and magnesium oxide. The results show that ternary mortars with these materials have improved mechanical capacity compared to binary mortars.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tian Li, Rita Nogueira, Jorge de Brito, Jiaping Liu
Summary: The aim of this study is to clarify the influence mechanisms of the content and properties of fine aggregates on the plastic viscosity of mortar. Experimental results confirmed that different content, grading, and morphology of fine aggregates indeed cause significant differences in the plastic viscosity of mortar. Based on the basic mechanical behavior of mortar flow, the authors deduced that the plastic viscosity is determined by the hydrodynamic interaction between fine aggregate particles and cement paste, as well as the contact interaction between the various fine aggregate particles. A semiquantitative model was developed to predict the plastic viscosity of mortar by combining the contributions of hydrodynamic and contact interactions.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ana Ferreira, Manuel Duarte Pinheiro, Jorge de Brito, Ricardo Mateus
Summary: Retail stores have a high consumption of natural resources, and integrating sustainability principles within a life cycle perspective is crucial. This study compares the applicability of Building Sustainability Assessment (BSA) methods to retail buildings, with a focus on LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB. The results show that DGNB is the most suitable method for retail buildings, providing performance metrics for operational costs and energy demand.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Filipe Miguel, Jorge de Brito, Rui Vasco Silva
Summary: The increasing demand for sustainability in construction has led to interest in using recycled materials in concrete production. This study aims to evaluate the performance of alkali activated concrete with different contents of fly ash (FA) and municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (MIBA). Tests were conducted on various mixes including natural aggregates and recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste. The results showed that substituting FA with MIBA negatively affected durability-related performance, while the incorporation of recycled aggregates significantly decreased compressive strength and overall durability performance. However, the use of recycled aggregates resulted in less dimensional variation in terms of shrinkage.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qifan Ren, Joao Pacheco, Jorge de Brito
Summary: This paper proposes refined formulae to consider the wall effects in the geometric mesostructure modelling of concrete. The calibration of the wall effect in geometric modelling has been rarely researched. The proposed formulae are calibrated and validated using measurements on real specimens, and a demonstrative application shows good agreement with experimental data.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
M. I. Romero-Gomez, R. V. Silva, I. Flores-Colen, J. de Brito
Summary: This study characterizes the residual physico-mechanical performance of gypsums with polypropylene and nylon plastic waste after exposure to high temperatures. Measurements of bulk density, ultrasonic pulse velocity, young's modulus, mechanical strength, fire reaction performance, and toxicity assessment were conducted. The results show that the residual properties are influenced more by reactions in the gypsum matrix than by the plastic waste content, and the plastic-containing composites can be classified as A2 non-combustible material.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tian Li, Rita Nogueira, Jorge de Brito, Jiaping Liu
Summary: This study investigates the influence of fine aggregate's grading on mortar's rheology. The non-uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of curvature (Cc) were used to quantitatively evaluate the fine aggregate's grading. The results show that Cu provides a good quantitative description of the fine aggregate's grading and presents a good correlation with its packing density. The study suggests that for a packing density higher than a critical value (0.7391), improving the rheology of mortar may be more effective by acting on aspects other than the fine aggregate's grading.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Joana Barrelas, Ana Silva, Jorge de Brito, Antonio Tadeu
Summary: Climate change could significantly impact buildings if not recognized properly. Consideration of climate action at the planning stage is crucial to promote durability of constructions. Portugal, as part of the Mediterranean region, is vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as higher temperatures and decreased precipitation. The research focuses on assessing the risks of climate-induced degradation on exterior cement renders.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Ferreira, Vitor Sousa, Manuel Pinheiro, Ines Meireles, Cristina Matos Silva, Jorge Brito, Ricardo Mateus
Summary: This study explores the technical and economic feasibility of rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative water source for a retail store in southern Portugal. The simulation shows that the system can save 32-36% of water consumption, resulting in a financial gain of 330-372 euros per month.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)