Towards sustainable construction waste management: Study on a disassemblable brick partition wall for the architecture, construction, and engineering industry

Abstract

This study proposes an approach to combat construction waste in the architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) industry by developing a disassemblable brick partition wall. Brick reuse is severely restricted by the presence of mortar; innovative approaches need to be explored. An existing strategy, utilizing mortarless interlocking, relies on non-standardized bricks. It is worth noting that these methods are not specifically created for disassembly, despite the fact that they theoretically could be. A relatively innovative technique for tightening and stabilizing brick units emerged in recent years, involving the utilization of metal components. Despite its potential, there are limited case studies of this approach. By drawing on two typical examples of pros and cons, MIFA 1862 and the UMAR Unit, we propose a new strategy and examine it from multiple perspectives. The findings of the analysis demonstrate how adaptable and versatile the proposed system is, allowing it to be modified into a variety of sizes and forms. Additionally, the system has proven to have considerable advantages in terms of construction speed, and energy efficiency throughout the structure's service time and in future use phases.