Effects of brick content on compression induced breakage characteristics of CDW aggregates

Generation of construction and demolition waste (CDW) in huge quantities poses significant problems related to material handling and its safe disposal. On the other hand, the industrial growth along with rapid urbanisation has resulted in the overexploitation of natural resources. Hence, large-scale utilisation of CDW in civil engineering applications seems to be a viable option. However, the breakage characteristics of CDW play an important role in determining its mechanical behaviour. Grain size distribution, density, and load transfer mechanism within the material are altered due to particle breakage. Consequently, the settlement behaviour and structural stability of CDW are changed. In the present study, the breakage characteristics of CDW using one-dimensional compression test were investigated. For this purpose, different sizes and proportions of recycled concrete aggregates and recycled bricks aggregates (RBA) were considered. Thereafter, the effect of different stress levels on gradation curves, mean grain size, uniformity coefficient, relative breakage, probability of active breakage, and volumetric strains was examined. The findings indicate that particle breakage is more pronounced in smaller sizes of aggregates. The probability of active breakage keeps on increasing with higher RBA content. Based on the results obtained, the volumetric strain is proportionately higher beyond 20% of RBA content.