Bitublock - Novel construction units composed of recycled waste ...

Bitublock - Novel construction units composed of recycled wastematerials and bituminous bindersThe increased demand for reuse/recycling of waste materials from national regulations and EUdirectives, as well as the issue of sustainable utilisation of primary materials and waste requires thecompliance from the construction sector. Therefore, the development and use of constructionmaterials with high recycle content is considered essential.Trials investigated the production of bitumenous blocks using two different types of bitumen (50penetration bitumen and harder H 80/90 bitumen) and waste materials such as crushed glass,pulverised fuel ash (PFA), incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) and steel slag. The properties of theused materials can be seen in Table 1.In Bitublock, the use of bitumen as the binder managed to achieve a level of replacement that exceedsany replacement percentage achieved so far with cementitious and clay-bound materials.Table1: Materials used in Bitublock mixturesMaterialsDensity(Mg/m 3 )Waterabsorption%Utilisationcrushed glass 2.51

25% IBA100% CG4% FA 5 (50 pen) 100/24 2.027 12.1 4.475% CG100%100% CG4% ISSA 16 (50 pen) 100/24 1.748 12.4 8.1ISSA100% SS (*2) 100% CG 4% FA 5 (H 80/90) 160/24 2.452 12.8 9.8(*1): CG= crushed glass, (*2): SS= steel slag, (*3): FA= fly ashThe compressive strength of the various versions of Bitublock is at least equal to that of thecurrent normal aggregate block produced in UK (at least 3.5 - 7.0 MPa). Bitublocks provide anideal opportunity for the utilisation of many waste materials. The combination of different wastesdoes have an effect on the overall performance and properties of the block. However, the differentproperties highlight the flexibility of the new unit to match different practical requirements. Formore information contact:Dr. John Forth School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds. Tel: 01133432270 Email:j.p.forth@leeds.ac.ukDr. Dong Van Dao, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds. Email:cenvdd@leeds.ac.ukPublications:FORTH, J. P., ZOOROB, S. E. & THANAYA, I. N. A. (2006) Development of bitumen-bound wasteaggregate building blocks. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - ConstructionMaterials, 159, 23-31.VAN DAO, D., FORTH, J. P. & ZOOROB, S. E. (2006) Bitumen bound construction units utilisingonly recycled and waste materials as aggregates. 5th International Conference on Research andPractical Applications Using Wastes and Secondary Materials in Pavement Engineering. JohnMoores University, Liverpool