Characterization of construction and demolition wastes (C&DW)/geogrid interfaces

Abstract

Over the last years the environmental sustainability has been demanding a progressive increase in the waste valorisation. The valorisation of Construction and Demolition Wastes (C&DW), reduces the use of natural resources and avoids congesting landfills with these inert materials. Although some studies have been carried out on the application of recycled C&DW, the valorisation of C&DW in geosynthetic reinforced embankments is almost an unexplored field. A research project on the assessment of the use of recycled C&DW as backfill material in geosynthetic reinforced structures is being developed at University of Porto. This work presents and discusses results of direct shear and pullout tests carried out to characterise the behaviour of C&DW/geogrid interfaces. The results have evidenced that C&DW, properly compacted, could exhibit shear strength similar to the natural soils commonly used in the construction of geosynthetic reinforced embankments. High values of the interaction coefficient for the geogrid/C&DW interfaces were achieved. (c) 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London.