Physico-Mechanical Characterization of Masonry Mortars for Sustainable Construction: Experimental Study with Four Different Aggregates

Enrique Ruano Gutiérrez, Daniel Ferrández (), Evangelina Atanes-Sánchez and Miguel Ruano de Pablo
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Enrique Ruano Gutiérrez: Departamento de Construcción Arquitectónicas y su Control, Escuela Técnica Superior de Edificación, Avda. Juan de Herrera, nº 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Daniel Ferrández: Departamento de Tecnología de la Edificación, Escuela Técnica Superior de Edificación, Avda. Juan de Herrera, nº 6, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Evangelina Atanes-Sánchez: Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Química y Diseño Industrial, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Miguel Ruano de Pablo: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-23

Abstract: The construction sector generates a strong environmental impact every year as a result of the high consumption of raw materials and the large waste volumes associated with this productive activity. In this sense, the search for alternative and sustainable solutions that allow progress towards responsible economic growth has become a priority activity. This work presents an exhaustive characterisation of masonry mortars made with four different types of aggregates: standard sand, natural sand, concrete waste recycled sand and ceramic components recovered sand. Differently from other studies, this research addresses the previous characterisation of the aggregates as raw material for the manufacture of masonry mortars, and, afterwards, a study of the most relevant properties for these cement composites in the fresh and hardened state is carried out. The most relevant properties of the mortars made with these raw materials are presented, and the repercussion of aggregate washing on their physical-mechanical characteristics is analysed. The results show how mortars made with 100% recycled aggregate can be competitive in the industry, presenting excellent properties in the fresh state and achieving an optimal mechanical strength. In addition, it has been observed that the introduction of a previous washing step of the aggregates improves their physical-mechanical properties and results in a higher quality of the cement mortars finally produced. In this way, the most representative properties of this type of materials have been collected in a well-structured and complete way, thus showing their possibilities of application in the construction industry.

Keywords: mortar; construction and demolition waste; aggregates; characterization; masonry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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