CCPDM-Circular cementitious products embedding digital manufacturing

This new project led by the IDoBE Centre utilises construction and demolition (C&D) wastes and plastic wastes, for an additive manufacturing-driven prototype of modular blocks. It builds the virtual connection between two research centres in the UK and India. Building Material Promotion Council estimated that India generates 150 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste annually. However, just 1.3% of the total C&D wastes are recycled. There are a lack of uniformity and limited good business cases in C&D recycling processes in India nationwide. C&D waste handling also forms a key part in controlling the air quality following India's National Clean Air Programme and Urban Local Bodies. In the UK, C&D wastes account for up to 60% of annual wastes. Although over 90% of C&D wastes have been recovered, there is a large potential to improve the circularity value of recovery, such as from backfilling to repurposed building products. This project aims to bridge the state-of-the-art circularity research and development in utilising C&D and plastics wastes to achieve the optimal mix design in manufacturing modular blocks. It addresses the process and products from C&D and plastic wastes. IDoBE Centre will lead the feasibility study to establish the sources of C&D wastes, the processing of wastes, and the product case. Current challenges in the UK foundation industry are addressed, specifically, sorting of brickbats and concrete materials at demolition sites as their mix has a negative impact on wet processing plants and properties of sand and aggregate produced from the plants. In India, SV-NIT Lab is providing consultancy services to contractors currently involved in a Metro rail large project that use recyclable and reusable C&D waste materials for construction.

The project builds upon the existing expertise of the UK team in reusing waste plastics for 3D printing products, which are adaptable and reusable for shaping blocks. It will extend the prior work of the IDoBE Centre by further integrating C&D and plastic wastes in developing the testing blocks as the business case. The research team from IDoBE Centre through virtual network develop the knowledge between UK and India in utilising locally available materials in construction and civil engineering sectors. Research dissemination activities are planned in this project to link current research activities into emerging additive manufacturing to drive the change in thinking of using unsustainable products in construction.