Dr Manjari Chakraborty | Dr Rizwan Kazmi
ISBN:
978-81-180058-1-0
DOI:
3. Mechanical Properties of Pervious Paving Blocks with Recycled Debris
Circular Economy in the Construction Industry: Waste Management Practices
Arijit Kumar Banerji | Md. Hamjala Alam | Koyndrik Bhattacharjee | Chanchal Das
DOI:
2026 | 337 pp.
The increasing need for sustainable construction practices has led to a growing interest in reusing waste materials to reduce environmental impact without compromising functional performance. Porous concrete, widely used in low-impact development systems, offers significant benefits in stormwater management and groundwater recharge. However, its high porosity often comes at the cost of reduced mechanical strength, limiting its use in applications with heavy wheel loads. This study aims to assess the mechanical and permeability performance of pervious paver blocks incorporating recycled demolition debris—specifically recycled masonry rubble comprising fragments of bricks, stones, and mortar—as a partial replacement for natural aggregates.
Concrete mixes were developed with 0% (control), 25%, and 50% replacement levels of recycled masonry rubble. Two aggregate size ranges (20–12.5 mm and 12.5–4.75 mm) were used to investigate the effect of gradation on performance, with the mix proportion fixed at 1:4 (cement:aggregate). Each mix was evaluated for compressive strength, split tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and permeability.
The results showed that while compressive strength decreased slightly with increased use of recycled aggregates, the permeability values remained within the acceptable range for pervious pavement applications. Mixes containing up to 25% RMR demonstrated mechanical strength above 14 MPa, adequate abrasion resistance, and permeability suitable for pervious pavement applications. The study proposes a design framework where mixes with 25% RMR are recommended for moderate- strength, low-traffic applications, while mixes with 50% RMR are better suited for high-drainage, low-load areas. These findings suggest that recycled construction debris can be effectively used in the production of sustainable pervious paver blocks, offering a dual benefit—conserving natural resources and reducing construction waste.