Being able to identify blended dredged material and crushed glass of different proportions as materials suitable for Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls could help the adoption of these materials in civil engineering thereby reducing the environmental impact of these waste materials. The objectives of this thesis include the following: Collect and organize data to facilitate material selection based on interaction properties with uniaxial geogrids; analyze the data for trends for varying percentages of crushed glass vs. dredged materials; compare the properties of different blends with those of a well-documented uniform sand; compare the pullout data with that of previous studies related to the presence of fines in the fill material; and compare the pullout data to that of previous studies on the effect of geogrid rib thickness. The main findings of this thesis study include the following: A blend of 80% crushed glass and 20% dredged material is a legitimate alternative backfill material for reinforced soil slopes. The use of 100% crushed glass as a fill material is not recommended due to glass particles embedding into the geogrid thereby reducing the tensile capacity of the geogrid. Blends with lower percentages of crushed glass and higher percentages of dredged material may be appropriate based on the requirements of individual designs. The increased thickness of the UX1700 geogrid over the UX1400 geogrid contributed to higher a pullout resistance for each combination of fill material and normal stress. / text

To combat the rapid degradation of the Louisiana coast, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has planned strategic land building initiatives throughout the Louisiana Gulf coast, including beach nourishment and marsh creation projects. It is commonly agreed that the state lacks sufficient renewable sediment resources to maintain the planned CPRA land building program. However, Louisiana, the state that commonly ranks last in state recycling percentage, recycles an estimated 0.6% of the waste glass consumed in the state. Glass is predominantly silica sand. This thesis evaluates laboratory‑determined characteristics of recycled crushed glass cullet to assess its suitability as a renewable aggregate for beach nourishment and marsh creation projects. Specifically, the research herein evaluates geotechnical and settling characteristics of recycled crushed glass cullet produced in Pearl River, Louisiana. Additionally, this research evaluates the effects on beach nourishment and marsh creation design parameters of blending this material with Gulf coastal sediments.

L’argile est une ressource locale, abondante mais peu valorisée au Bénin. Le recyclage des déchets constitue de nos jours, un enjeu majeur au niveau mondial. Les briques d’argile cuite sont des matériaux à fort tonnage de production capables d’absorber différents produits considérés comme des déchets. Cette thèse vise d’une part la valorisation des matériaux de construction localement disponibles au Bénin, notamment l’argile et d’autre part, le recyclage des déchets en construction. Ainsi, nous nous proposons de valoriser des bouteilles en verre non recyclés et des cendres issues de la combustion du charbon de bois lors de la préparation des repas au Bénin, dans la matrice argileuse destinée à l’élaboration de briques cuites. Le but est de ressortir les formulations idéales des produits qui présentent des propriétés physiques et mécaniques suffisantes. Les études ont montré que le dosage de 5% des cendres de bois du Bénin et 20% de verres broyés favorise un gain de résistance à la traction par flexion trois points sans modifier la résistance à la compression des blocs d’argile cuits de Zogbodomey et de Sèmè-Podji. En outre, le dosage en ajout ne modifie pas les propriétés thermiques des blocs cuits. L’utilisation des cendres de charbon de bois et des déchets de verre comme matières premières secondaires dans la fabrication de briques cuites constitue alors un grand atout pour l’amélioration du cadre de vie des béninois. / Clay is a local resource, abundant but little valued in Benin. Waste recycling is nowadays a major issue at the global level. The fired clay bricks are high production tonnage materials capable of absorbing different products considered as waste. This thesis aims on the one hand the valuation of building materials locally available in Benin, including clay and secondly, the recycling of waste under construction. Thus, we propose to valorize nonrecycled glass bottles and ashes from the burning of charcoal during the preparation of meals in Benin, in the clay matrix for the preparation of cooked bricks. The goal is to highlight the ideal formulations of products that have sufficient physical and mechanical properties. Studies have shown that the 5% Benin wood ashes content and 20% crushed glass content increase the tensile strength by three-point bending without modifying the compressive strength of the Zogbodomey fired clay blocks from Seme-Podji. In addition, the addition dosage does not modify the thermal properties of the fired blocks. The use of wood ashes and glass waste as a secondary raw material in the manufacture of fired bricks is an effective alternative to land and environmental conservation, and it can be a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the building industry. These materials are then a great asset for improving the living environment in Benin.