Innovating traditional building materials in Chembe, Malawi: assessing post-consumer waste glass and burnt clay bricks for performance and circularity
15 Feb 2021-International Journal of Sustainable Engineering (Taylor & Francis)-Vol. 14, Iss: 4, pp 874-883
TL;DR: In the Global South, post-consumer waste glass is an often dumped, and under-utilised resource as discussed by the authors. Even in Malawi, with widespread return schemes, many barriers exist, inhibiting reuse, and necess...
Abstract: Across the Global South, post-consumer waste glass is an often dumped, and under-utilised resource. Even in Malawi, with widespread return schemes, many barriers exist, inhibiting reuse, and necess...
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TL;DR: In this paper , the authors explored the intellectual structure shaping the circular economy discourse within the built environment in Africa and identified prominent scholars and academic platforms responsible for promoting circularity in Africa.
Abstract:
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the intellectual structure shaping the circular economy (CE) discourse within the built environment in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a bibliometric analysis approach to explore the intellectual structure of CE in the built environment in Africa. The authors collected 31 papers published between 2005 and 2021 from the Scopus database and used VOSviewer for data analysis.
Findings
The findings show that there are six clusters shaping the intellectual structure: demolition, material recovery and reuse; waste as a resource; cellulose and agro-based materials; resilience and low-carbon footprint; recycling materials; and the fourth industrial revolution. The two most cited scholars had three publications each, while the top journal was Resources, Conservation and Recycling. The dominant concepts included CE, sustainability, alternative materials, waste management, lifecycle, demolition and climate change. The study concludes that there is low CE research output in Africa, which implies that the concept is either novel or facing resistance.
Research limitations/implications
The data were drawn from one database, Scopus; hence, adoption of alternative databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar and Dimensions could potentially have yielded a higher number of articles for analysis which potentially would result in different conclusions on the subject understudy.
Originality/value
This study made a significant contribution by articulating the CE intellectual structure in the built environment, identified prominent scholars and academic platforms responsible for promoting circularity in Africa.
3 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors conducted a critical literature review of material stock studies that claim they contribute to urban circularity and found that, out of 271 studies, only 132 provided information that could be relevant to the implementation of circular cities, albeit to vastly different degrees of effectiveness.
Abstract: City and regional planners have recently started exploring a circular approach to urban development. Meanwhile, industrial ecologists have been designing and refining methodologies to quantify and locate material flows and stocks within systems. This Perspective explores to which extent material stock studies can contribute to urban circularity, focusing on the built environment. We conducted a critical literature review of material stock studies that claim they contribute to circular cities. We classified each article according to a matrix we developed leveraging existing circular built environment frameworks of urban planning, architecture, and civil engineering and included the terminology of material stock studies. We found that, out of 271 studies, only 132 provided information that could be relevant to the implementation of circular cities, albeit to vastly different degrees of effectiveness. Of these 132, only 26 reported their results in a spatially explicit manner, which is fundamental to the effective actuation of circular city strategies. We argue that future research should strive to provide spatial data, avoid being siloed, and increase engagement with other sociopolitical fields to address the different needs of the relevant stakeholders for urban circularity.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors propose to generalize the approach used for traditional networks such as water and thermal power systems by using compartmental dynamical thermodynamics and graph theory, where the thermodynamic compartments and their connections can be added, removed or modified as needed to achieve a circular material flow.
Abstract: Waste production, carbon dioxide atmospheric accumulation, and dependence on finite natural resources are expressions of the unsustainability of the current industrial networks that supply fuels, energy, and manufacturing products. In particular, circular manufacturing supply chains and carbon control networks are urgently needed. To model and design these and, in general, any material networks, we propose to generalize the approach used for traditional networks such as water and thermal power systems by using compartmental dynamical thermodynamics and graph theory. The key idea is that the thermodynamic compartments and their connections can be added, removed or modified as needed to achieve a circular material flow. The design methodology is explained and its application is illustrated through examples. In addition, we provide a physics-based definition of circularity and, by implementing a nonlinear compartmental control, we strengthen the connection between "Industry 4.0" and "Sustainability". The paper source code is publicly available.
References
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Book•
01 Dec 1968
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the following properties of concrete: Elasticity, Shrinkage and Creep, Durabilty of Concrete, Freezing and Thawing, and Chlorides.
Abstract: 1. Portland Cement. 2. Cementitious Materials Of Different Types. 3. Properties Of Aggregate. 4. Fresh Concrete. 5. Admixtures. 6. Strength Of Concrete. 7. Further Aspects Of Hardened Concrete. 8. Temperature Effects In Concrete. 9. Elasticity, Shrinkage And Creep. 10. Durabilty Of Concrete. 11. Effects Of Freezing And Thawing And Of Chlorides. 12. Testing Of Hardened Concrete. 13. Concretes With Particular Properties. 14. Selection Of Concrete Mix Proportions (Mix Design). Appendices. Index.
5,713 citations
"Innovating traditional building mat..." refers background in this paper
...Investigating the use of WG in concrete, Ismail and AlHashmi (2008) found that concrete with WG as an aggregate exhibits lower water absorption rates (a lower water absorption rate will contribute to increase properties of concrete and elevate the quality closer to ‘extremely good concrete’ where levels of water aborbtion rate are close to 5–6% (Khatib and Mangat 1995; Neville 1995)....
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TL;DR: The mortar bar tests demonstrated that the finely crushed waste glass helped reduce expansion by 66% as compared with the control mix, and the results proved 80% pozzolanic strength activity given by waste glass after 28 days.
343 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined recent trends in land use transformation taking place in the peri-urban areas of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and demonstrated that urbanisation in poverty is the key factor underpinning and catalysing changes in land uses, land transactions, increased rural-urban immigration and the overall transformation of land use in the Peri-Urban areas.
279 citations
"Innovating traditional building mat..." refers background in this paper
...…from poorer public services, including access to waste management services, as well as fewer opportunities for employment or economic development (c.f. (Kombe 2005; Thornton 2008; Doan and Oduro 2012; Kalina 2020; Kalina and Tilley 2020; Kleemann et al. 2017; Nuhu 2019; Tilley and Kalina 2020)....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed the different uses of waste glass in concrete and the effect of the glass properties on the performance and durability of the produce cement and concrete, and showed that the chemical composition and the pozzolanic properties of the waste glass are encouraging for the use of this waste in the concrete and concrete industries and to provide an environmental friendly solution for the glass and cement industries.
Abstract: Cement and glass industries are facing a lot of challenges due to the high greenhouse gases emissions, the intensive use of energy and the intensive use of the earth’s natural resources. The current situation of discarding waste glass to landfills is also not offering an environmental friendly management for the waste glass, due to the nonbiodegradable form of the waste glass. However, the chemical composition and the pozzolanic properties of waste glass are encouraging for the use of this waste in the cement and concrete industries and to provide an environmental friendly solution for the glass and cement industries. This paper reviews the different uses of waste glass in cement and concrete and the effect of the glass properties on the performance and durability of the produce cement and concrete.
278 citations
"Innovating traditional building mat..." refers background in this paper
...Waste glass and natural sand have been found to have similar physical properties, however WG has a lower water absorption rate than sand, by about 14% (Jani and Hogland 2014)....
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Book•
10 Feb 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the characteristics of material stocks and flows of human settlements in space and time; introduce the method of material flow analysis (MFA) for metabolic studies; analyze regional metabolism and the material systems generated by basic activities; and offer four case studies of optimal metabolic system design: phosphorus management, urban mining, waste management, and mobility.
Abstract: Over the last several thousand years of human life on Earth, agricultural settlements became urban cores, and these regional settlements became tightly connected through infrastructures transporting people, materials, and information. This global network of urban systems, including ecosystems, is the anthroposphere; the physical flows and stocks of matter and energy within it form its metabolism. This book offers an overview of the metabolism of the anthroposphere, with an emphasis on the design of metabolic systems. It takes a cultural historical perspective, supported with methodology from the natural sciences and engineering. The book will be of interest to scholars and practitioners in the fields of regional development, environmental protection, and material management. It will also be a resource for undergraduate and graduate students in industrial ecology, environmental engineering, and resource management. The authors describe the characteristics of material stocks and flows of human settlements in space and time; introduce the method of material flow analysis (MFA) for metabolic studies; analyze regional metabolism and the material systems generated by basic activities; and offer four case studies of optimal metabolic system design: phosphorus management, urban mining, waste management, and mobility. This second edition of an extremely influential book has been substantially revised and greatly expanded. Its new emphasis on design and resource utilization reflects recent debates and scholarship on sustainable development and climate change.
183 citations