The use of coarse and fine crushed bricks as aggregate in concrete

Recycling and reuse of building rubble present interesting possibilities for economy on waste disposal sites and conservation of natural resources. This paper examines the possibility of using crushed brick as coarse and fine aggregate for a new concrete. Either natural sand, coarse aggregates or both were partially replaced (25,50,75 and 100%) with crushed brick aggregates. Compressive and flexural strengths up to 90 days of age were compared with those of concrete made with natural aggregates. Porosity, water absorption, water permeability and shrinkage were also measured. The test results indicate that it is possible to manufacture concrete containing crushed bricks (coarse and fine) with characteristics similar to those of natural aggregates concrete provided that the percentage of recycled aggregates is limited to 25% and 50% for the coarse and fine aggregates, respectively. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.