Evaluation of the self-cemeting effect of Construction and Demotion Waste (CDW) on mechanical performance over time for pavement support layers purpose

Abstract

Abstract The problem related to the generation of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is directly associated with its high volume and irregular disposal, especially when such waste is disposed of in landfills. Therefore, it is increasingly important to encourage the reuse of this material, especially in large-scale projects. However, the use of this waste depends on the different constituent materials, which show a wide variability. Within this context, the objective of this work was to study the mechanical performance of construction and demolition waste over time aiming at the use in pavement support layers. Two samples were evaluated, one composed exclusively of construction waste (CDW_1) and the other composed of a soil-waste mixture (S_CDW), with 50% of each material. The tests evaluated the strength of the materials over a curing period from 0 to 224 days. The results clearly indicate an increase in strength and stiffness over time. The CDW_1 samples indicated a more significant increase. The analyses indicated that this behavior occurs due to the effect of self-cementing properties that occur in this type of waste. The results indicate a benefit in terms of strength when using this type of waste either alone or mixed with soil.