MATERIAIS 2015

Porto, 21-23 June, 2015

RECYCLED CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS FOR

CONSTRUCTION OF GEOGRID REINFORCED EMBANKMENTS
Castorina S. Vieira1, *, Paulo M. Pereira1 and Maria de Lurdes Lopes1
1University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Civil Engineering Department, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
*corresponding author: cvieira@fe.up.pt

Keywords: Construction and Demolition Wastes; Geosynthetics; Backfill material; Sustainable construction.

Abstract

The proper use of the natural resources is one of the fundamental pillars for the sustainable development
imposed to today’s societies. Over the last years the environmental sustainability has been demanding, on the
one hand, the decrease of the exploitation of non-renewable resources and, on the other hand, a progressive
increase in the waste valorisation in the most diverse areas. The valorisation of wastes in the construction
industry is therefore a need and one way forward for the sustainability.
Construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has been identified by the European Commission (EC)
as a priority stream because of the large amounts that are generated and the high potential for re-use
and recycling embodied in these materials. The efficiency in resources and raw materials use is part
of one Societal Challenge of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation which
addresses major concerns shared by citizens in Europe. Additionally, it is necessary to take into
account that the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC [1]) requires that the all
Member States take the necessary measures to achieve by 2020 a target of 70% (by weight) of
C&DW recycling, including backfilling operations using non-hazardous C&DW to substitute other
materials.
Several studies and applications of recycled C&DW have been performed mainly related to the
production of aggregates for use in concrete and to be used in base layers of transportation
infrastructures [2, 3, 4]. As regards the application of C&DW in geotechnical works, it has been
verified that the valorisation is performed mainly in road construction, particularly in base and
sub-base layers of the infrastructures. The valorisation of C&DW in geosynthetic reinforced
structures is almost an unexplored field [5, 6]. The valorisation of recycled C&DW as backfill
material, particularly in geosynthetic reinforced embankments where it is possible to reach large
heights and very steep slopes, represents a double economic and environmental benefit. On the one
hand, the valorisation of C&DW contributes to achieve the recycling targets set by the EC and, on
the other hand, it avoids the environmental and economic costs related to the extraction of large
volumes of borrow soils. A research project aiming to contribute to the sustainable application of
recycled C&DW as backfill material in geosynthetic reinforced structures, is being developed at
University of Porto, Portugal.
One of the interaction mechanisms in geosynthetic reinforced embankments is the pullout strength
of the interfaces. When the geosynthetic can be pulled out from the backfill (mechanism particularly
important behind the potential failure surfaces) the interaction between the two materials should be
characterised through pullout tests.
This work presents and discusses the physical, mechanical and environmental characterisation of
the recycled C&DW (Figure 1) and results of pullout tests carried to characterise the behaviour of
C&DW/geogrid interfaces. The pullout tests were carried out with a constant displacement rate of
2 mm/min and normal stress at the interface level of approximately 31 kPa.
Two commercial available geogrids were used in this study: an extruded uniaxial high density
polyethylene (HDPE) geogrid and a laid uniaxial geogrid manufactured of extruded polyester (PET)
 MATERIAIS 2015
Porto, 21-23 June, 2015

bars with welded rigid junctions.

Figure 1 – Visual aspect of the recycled C&DW (ruler in centimeters).

The environmental characterization of the C&DW, carried out through leaching tests, has shown
that this C&DW fulfils the acceptance criteria for inert landfill. No environmental concerns were
identified.
The results have evidenced that C&DW, properly selected and compacted, could exhibit shear
strength similar to the natural materials commonly used in the construction of geosynthetic
reinforced structures. The C&DW/geogrid interfaces have shown adequate pullout resistance,
with coefficients of interaction in the range of usual values for soil/geogrid interfaces.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thanks the financial support of Portuguese Science and Technology
Foundation (FCT) and FEDER, through the Research Project: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028842,
RCD-VALOR – Sustainable application of Recycled Construction and Demolition Wastes (C&DW)
in geosynthetics reinforced structures (PTDC/ECM-GEO/0622/2012). The authors also thank
Tensar International and Naue for providing the geogrids used in this study.

REFERENCES

[1] UE (2008), Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November on
waste and repealing certain Directives, in Official Journal of the European Union L312/3 of 22
November 2008.
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road sections using mixed recycled aggregates treated with cement in Malaga, Spain. Resources,
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