| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T03765/01 |
| Title: |
BITUBLOCK -a novel construction unit composed entirely of recycled and waste aggregates |
| Principal Investigator: |
Forth, Professor J |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Civil Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Leeds |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 December 2004 |
Ends: |
31 May 2008 |
Value (£): |
278,182
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Civil Engineering Materials |
Pavement Engineering |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Construction |
| Environment |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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To comply with the Government's aims for recycling of materials, it is proposed to research and develop a new range of construction units composed entirely of recycled and waste aggregates. This complete replacement of traditional aggregates (a level of replacement which exceeds any replacement percentages achieved so far with cementitious and clay bound materials) is possible in this new material because this novel material uses bitumen as the binder. The composition of the units is in fact a combination of graded aggregates and binding agents from selected bitumens, which can be considered as by-products from the petroleum industry. The aggregates include residual plastics and surplus green glass as well as those aggregates currently classified as unused waste ashes (pulverised fuel ash (PFA), incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA), incinerated bottom ash (IBA)) and slags from the steel and iron industries. The manufacturing process, developed by the applicants from their experience of bitumen composites for highways application, will also benefit industry as it is a significantly lower energy process compared with the high energies required for the manufacture of cement-based units and fired clay bricks. This novel manufacturing process is also extremely versatility; units can be manufactured with a range of properties (compressive strength, water absorption, thermal conductivity etc.) and shapes to suit any number of different applications and construction methods. The properties of the units are at least equivalent to existing masonry units. The construction industry will benefit directly as this versatility in shape will help promote new construction processes and practices such as large panel construction, off-site manufacture and pre-fabrication. This will improve buildability and reduce construction costs as well as satisfy Health and Safety requirements for reduced handling by the workforce. If a direct replacement for existing concrete blocks is required, it is envisaged that existing manufacturing systems can be utilised therefore incurring little if any capital expenditure when this process is introduced. Industry in the UK will also benefit from cost savings achieved particularly when considering landfill and aggregate tax. The benefits are as relevant to the UK industry and markets as they are to their international counterparts. The principle can also be applied in developing countries using soil where graded aggregates are unavailable.The proposed research will be performed at both the University of Leeds and the Nottingham Centre for Pavement Engineering, University of Nottingham. The experimental programme consists of three stages. The initial stage is concerned with mix optimisation. The following stage will assess the individual units manufactured from the novel mixes produced in Stage 1. The third stage will analyse panels constructed from the new units. The proposal has nine industrial collaborators providing in-kind contributions totalling 117,750. The total amount of funding being sought is 281,843.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.leeds.ac.uk |