Experimental study on the mechanical properties of the concrete solid brick masonry made of recycled aggregates

In China, a huge quantity of construction and demolition (C&D) wastes are produced every year, these wastes are mainly composed of concrete rubble's or bricks. The disposal of the wastes has become a severe social and environmental trouble in the territory. The possibility of reuse these wastes in construction industry is thus of increasing importance. Concrete solid brick made of recycled aggregates is a new kind of brick which uses the concrete rubbles or bricks as aggregates, and it is a recycled building material that has good development prospect. In this paper, the test results of 18 concrete solid brick masonry specimens made of recycled aggregates under compression and 36 concrete solid brick specimens made of recycled aggregates under shear are given, and the characteristics of these masonry specimens under loading are discussed in detail. The formulas calculating the compressive strength and shear strength of the concrete solid brick masonry members made of recycled aggregates are given, and the design values of compression strength and shear strength that may be used in the design of buildings are also suggested. Based on analysis for the stress-strain relationship of the solid brick masonry specimens under compression, the numerical expression of compressive stress-stain relationship and the elastic modulus of the solid concrete brick masonry members are also suggested. This may be as a reference for the applications of solid concrete brick masonry structures.