Reclaimed brick masonry waste recycling in macro–micro amelioration of cemented clayey soil: an eco-friendly construction waste solution

Reclaimed brick masonry makes up a noteworthy portion of construction and demolition waste (CDW), totaling approximately 31%, even exceeding concrete waste. This study proposes using reclaimed brick masonry to enhance the micro- and macro-properties of clayey soil. Extensive laboratory testing was conducted to evaluate the performance of reclaimed brick powder (BP) along with 5% cement content. The cement was used to generate chemical bonds with BP and soil grains. Micro-testing like XRF, XRD, EDAX, and SEM analyses confirmed the formation of CSH and CAH compounds which strengthened soil structure and enhanced its brittleness. However, after 10% BP, the addition of coarser grains converted the soil structure from dense to porous. Macro-properties assessment confirmed that 10% BP with 5% cement content is an optimum combination for selected soil. The addition of BP reduces the required amount of cement for soil stabilization, making it an eco-friendlier solution. The addition of the optimum combination decreased the w_L, I_P, FSI, w_opt, and C_c and increased the γ_dmax, q_u, CBR value, and σ_y significantly. It is also confirmed by the specimen’s failure morphology analysis that BP with cement in clayey soil curtailed cement generated brittleness and enhanced ductility.