Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete
Installing utility pipelines generates a significant amount of trench arisings, which are usually transported to landfills instead of being reused as backfill material. This practice generates CO2 emissions and wastes raw materials. This paper presents a more sustainable solution, an eco-trench, whi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Materiales de Construccion |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/2194 |
| _version_ | 1818460414745247744 |
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| author | A. Blanco P. Pujadas C. Fernández S. H.P. Cavalaro A. Aguado |
| author_facet | A. Blanco P. Pujadas C. Fernández S. H.P. Cavalaro A. Aguado |
| author_sort | A. Blanco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Installing utility pipelines generates a significant amount of trench arisings, which are usually transported to landfills instead of being reused as backfill material. This practice generates CO2 emissions and wastes raw materials. This paper presents a more sustainable solution, an eco-trench, which is based on re-using trench arisings as backfill and adding a top layer of expansive concrete to improve the eco-trench’s structural performance. The technical feasibility of the eco-trench was evaluated through a finite element model, which identified the degree of expansion in concrete required to avoid failure or subside the stresses caused by traffic. The potential expansion of concrete was measured under confined conditions in the laboratory by means of a novel test developed for this purpose. The results showed that adding calcium oxide generates the required internal stress. The results were then confirmed in a pilot experience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:29:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c73f597ceb5949ab95a69a0c50ed7612 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0465-2746 1988-3226 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T23:29:52Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materiales de Construccion |
| spelling | doaj.art-c73f597ceb5949ab95a69a0c50ed76122022-12-21T22:43:43ZengConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasMateriales de Construccion0465-27461988-32262017-12-0167328e135e13510.3989/mc.2017.053162120Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concreteA. Blanco0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4190-9846P. Pujadas1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5634-7431C. Fernández2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-5181S. H.P. Cavalaro3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9368-0898A. Aguado4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5542-6365Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaInstalling utility pipelines generates a significant amount of trench arisings, which are usually transported to landfills instead of being reused as backfill material. This practice generates CO2 emissions and wastes raw materials. This paper presents a more sustainable solution, an eco-trench, which is based on re-using trench arisings as backfill and adding a top layer of expansive concrete to improve the eco-trench’s structural performance. The technical feasibility of the eco-trench was evaluated through a finite element model, which identified the degree of expansion in concrete required to avoid failure or subside the stresses caused by traffic. The potential expansion of concrete was measured under confined conditions in the laboratory by means of a novel test developed for this purpose. The results showed that adding calcium oxide generates the required internal stress. The results were then confirmed in a pilot experience.http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/2194concretemixture proportionexpansionfinite element methodshrinkage |
| spellingShingle | A. Blanco P. Pujadas C. Fernández S. H.P. Cavalaro A. Aguado Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete Materiales de Construccion concrete mixture proportion expansion finite element method shrinkage |
| title | Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| title_full | Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| title_fullStr | Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| title_short | Eco-trench: a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| title_sort | eco trench a novel trench solution based on reusing excavated material and a finishing layer of expansive concrete |
| topic | concrete mixture proportion expansion finite element method shrinkage |
| url | http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/2194 |
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