Reuse of clay brick and ceramic waste in concrete: A study on compressive strength and durability using the Taguchi and Box–Behnken design method

•Ceramic waste aggregate and clay brick waste powder were used to produce the concrete.•The Taguchi method and Box–Behnken design were applied to the experimental design.•The optimal mixture for maximum compressive strength was found.•The durability of concrete with optimal mixtures was studied. This study investigated the compressive strength and durability of concrete containing clay brick waste powder (CBWP) and ceramic waste aggregate (CWA). First, we applied the Taguchi and Box–Behnken design method to find the optimal conditions for ensuring the maximum compressive strength of concrete. We considered three factors, including the amount of CWA, the amount of CWBP, and the water–cement ratio in the concrete mixture, as factors influencing the compressive strength of concrete. Second, we studied the durability of concrete with optimal mixture. The experimental results showed that the factor that most influenced compressive strength was the amount of CBWP as a cement substitute. The amount of CWA had the least effect on compressive strength. Maximum compressive strength was reached when 100% CWA was used as a coarse aggregate. The compressive strength of concrete containing CWA and CBWP decreased after 7 days but increased again after 28 days. Moreover, the use of CWA and CBWP improved the chloride ion permeability and sulphate resistance of the concrete compared to the control concrete. Meanwhile, the concrete containing CWA and CBWP had lower abrasion resistance than the reference concrete.