Recycled Concrete Aggregates: A Promising and Sustainable Option for the Construction Industry

Abstract

The recycling of locally collected concrete waste is being promoted toward reducing the carbon footprint. In the preparation of concrete, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are encouraged instead of natural aggregates (NA), as they can help reduce the consumption of virgin materials, the extraction and transportation of which can be costly and environmentally damaging. In this context, we conducted an experimental study on various concrete mixes to evaluate the effect of using RCA instead of NA on the physical and mechanical properties of fresh and hardened concrete. The main novelty of our study lies in meeting one of the principles of circular economy, i.e., reducing the carbon footprint, by recycling concrete waste collected locally. We prepared and investigated test specimens containing 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of fine and coarse recycled concrete aggregates. Results for fresh concrete were determined for temperature, consistency, air content, and density, while on the other side, in hardened concrete, results were determined for compressive strength, tensile splitting strength, and density. All results were determined experimentally and then compared. Our results showed that, with the use of RCA in the concrete mix, construction companies can significantly reduce their carbon footprints and help conserve natural resources. RCA can help create a more sustainable and affordable construction industry and is better suited to meet future challenges. Our study can serve as a basis for advancing the application of RCA in the preparation of concrete for sustainable construction. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2023-04-02-03 Full Text: PDF