Eco+RCEB - Eco-efficient recycled cement compressed earth blocks

On going
About

A promising approach to earth building materials is the compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), increasing the processing speed and improving mechanical strength and durability when stabilized with cementitious materials, such as ordinary Portland cement or hydraulic lime. Therefore, the main objective of this project is the innovative production and characterization of more eco-friendly CSEB by using low embody energy recycled cement from waste concrete as a more sustainable stabilizer. The idea is to also explore incorporating construction and demolition waste as partial earth replacement, further increasing the CSEB sustainability. The new CSEB will be characterized in terms of their main physical, mechanical, thermal and durability properties using laboratory tests and in-situ tests involving the long-term exposure of various CSEB walls to different natural environments. In addition, the project also aims the development and characterization of new, more eco-efficient masonry earth mortars for CSEB joints using recycled cement. Finally, the best compromise between the technical performance and eco-efficiency of this new CSEB product is assessed by economic and environmental life-cycle analysis. This project is expected to contribute to the development of a new generation of low embodied energy building materials. 

Keywords:
Circular economy, Engineering, Resources and Raw Materials
Start Date:
End Date:
CERENA Role:
Partner

Coordinator/Local PI

CERENA Team

Proponent Institution

CERIS (IST-ID) - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Engenharia Civil para a Sustentabilidade

Partners

CERENA - Centro de Recursos Naturais e Ambiente (IST-ID), Portugal
CERIS - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Engenharia Civil para a Sustentabilidade (IST-ID), Portugal
Universidade de Alicante (UA), Spain
Universidade de Beira Interior (UBI), Portugal
National earth block producer (“Oficinas do convento”, Montemor), Portugal

Funding Programme

FCT - PTDC/ECI-CON/0704/2021

Total Funding
248 988,00 €