Development of Environmentally Sustainable Masonry Grout Materials

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Masonry buildings and masonry constructions can be traced back centuries ago. Loadbearing structural elements of masonry use concrete masonry blocks which are then filled with masonry grout materials which contain a large amount of Portland cement (PC) and natural sand (NS). PC is not an environmentally friendly material since the production of PC is responsible for about 8% of the total CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG). Hence, the primary goal of this research is to develop environmentally friendly masonry grout materials that will use limited or no PC. Industrial waste (slag), construction wastes (ground recycled concrete masonry), and clay soil will be used to replace PC. Use of NS in masonry grout materials and in traditional concrete materials has resulted in the depletion of stone reserves. Stones are crushed to produce NS and then they are hauled long-distances to construction sites. This long-distance hauling for the NS results in more emissions of GHG into the environment. Hence, this research will also investigate the use of locally available construction and demolition wastes as the substitute for NS for use in masonry grouts. These wastes are generated by concrete block manufacturers and demolition of old concrete structures which end up in the landfills causing environmental and health hazards to people living nearby. Thus, this research will also help in alleviating the landfill problem and minimizing the health and safety hazards. The newly developed environmentally sustainable grout materials will be then tested to evaluate their ability to perform the structural functions required of masonry grouts. A large number of masonry prism specimens and several tall masonry wall specimens will be built and tested in the structural testing lab at the University of Windsor. Additionally, computer simulations will be undertaken to determine various critical information needed for the assessment of the grout materials in loadbearing applications. This research will be completed in five years and seven engineering students will execute the work under the supervision of Dr. S. Das and Dr. B. Banting. These highly trained and skilled students will be able to bridge the skills gap in Canada.