Identification of mechanical and techno-economic impacts of recycled brick demolition waste in paving block production

This study focuses on paving block composites using fine aggregate from brick construction and demolition waste (CDW). The study addresses two issues that contribute to excessive resource extraction, environmental degradation, and rising material costs in urban construction: the steadily increasing production of brick CDW and the growing reliance on natural sand in the production of paving blocks. The accumulation of brick CDW in landfills and uncontrolled disposal further emphasizes the need for technically and economically feasible alternative material solutions. The results demonstrate that recycled brick CDW aggregates can be seamlessly incorporated into cement-based paving composites due to their complementary mineral compositions. Mechanical testing confirms that paving blocks made from recycled CDW have a noticeably higher compressive strength than natural sand. This performance improvement is caused by the rough surface and angular particle shape of brick CDW. These elements enhance the cement matrix's and aggregate's mechanical interlocking, creating a stronger composite structure. Furthermore, comparative analysis demonstrates that paving blocks manufactured with recycled brick CDW can achieve up to two times higher compressive strength while reducing production costs by about 50% when compared to conventional combinations. These findings suggest that recycled brick aggregates outperform natural sand in terms of cost and structural soundness. These findings suggest that recycled brick aggregates outperform natural sand in terms of cost and structural soundness. The study's findings can be used to support more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly building techniques, particularly in urban areas where brick demolition waste is easily accessible