Granulate is granular material produced by crushing and screening larger lumps down to a specific grain size. In construction, granulate is usually crushed rubble that is reused as a foundation layer or as aggregate in concrete. In this way granulate plays an important role in circular building.
Types of granulate
- Concrete granulate — crushed old concrete, suitable as aggregate in new concrete and as foundation material
- Mixed granulate — a mixture of crushed concrete and masonry rubble, widely used under roads and paving
- Masonry granulate — crushed brick and masonry rubble
- Asphalt granulate — crushed old asphalt, reusable in new asphalt mixes
Application
Granulate is mainly used as:
- Foundation layer — a compacted layer under roads, paving, floors and buildings
- Aggregate in concrete — as a replacement for (part of) the gravel
- Fill and make-up material — in earthworks and soil improvement
Advantages
- Circular — reusing construction and demolition waste saves primary raw materials
- Load-bearing — easy to compact into a stable, bearing layer
- Cost-conscious — often cheaper than new materials
Point of attention
The quality and composition of granulate must be known: contamination and variable grading affect its load-bearing capacity and applicability.
Related Terms
- Aggregate
- Foundation
- Grading
- Building material recycling
- Soil improvement
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