A Review on the Usage of Recycled Sand in the Construction Industry

The construction industry requires natural sand for many applications. The recycled sand obtained from industrial operations can also be utilized in construc tion activities. Many industries generate waste sand as a byproduct. The material generated from this discarded molds and cores is usually known as “used foundry sand,” “waste foundry sand,” or “spent foundry sand.” A vast quantity of used foundry sand is generating and heaping globally in a day-by-day manner. In this review article, an attempt is made to explore the characteristics and various utilizations of this recycled sand from the foundry industry as a valuable resource material in construction activities. From the analysis of the multiple types of research done so far on the reuse of waste foundry sand, it is found that the waste foundry sand is reusable in different civil engineering applications with added advantages. The advantageous applications of used foundry sand are ranging from the road base material to the substitute to fine aggregate in high-performance self-compacting concrete. More generally used foundry sand in the range of 10–30% is best suitable as a partial substitute to regular sand in mortar and concrete making. The use of recycled sand such as waste foundry sand in the construction industry can not only eliminate the problems of waste management and environmental impacts but also substantially boost up the sustainable developmental activities by way of reducing the consump tion of natural resources.