Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Crushed Brick as an Aggregate in Concrete

The paper explores the potential use of crushed brick as an aggregate in concrete. A reference mix of microconcrete with natural aggregate was prepared, along with four additional microconcrete mixes in which natural aggregate was substituted by crushed brick at replacement levels of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% by volume. The fresh microconcrete was tested for consistency, while hardened microconcrete samples were evaluated for flexural strength, compressive strength, and water absorption. The results showed that as the proportion of crushed brick increased, the consistency and the flexural strength of the microconcrete decreased, and the compressive strength decreased slightly while water absorption increased, suggesting a reduction in durability. However, this durability issue can be mitigated when used in dry environments. These findings support the potential for recycling aggregates derived from crushed remains of masonry buildings that collapsed during earthquakes.