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 wL, IP, FSI, wopt, and Cc and increased the γdmax, qu, CBR value, and σy 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.