Title: Experimental study of concrete using recycled coarse aggregate

Authors: Hyginus E. Opara; Uchechi G. Eziefula; Chima C. Ugwuegbu

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Imo State University, PMB 2000, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria ' School of Engineering Technology, Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, PMB 1472, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria ' Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, PMB 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract: An experimental study of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) using recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) is reported. The RCA was obtained from construction and demolition waste (C&DW) and used as full replacement of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) for production of RAC. Crushed granite was used as NCA, while crushed concrete rubble from a demolished concrete building was used as RCA. Two groups of concrete mixtures were tested: 100% NCA as control and 100% RCA. Bulk density and compressive strength tests of concrete cubes were conducted at 7, 14, 21, and 28 curing days respectively. The results showed that bulk density and compressive strength of natural aggregate concrete (NAC) were higher than those of RAC for different ages of concrete. The bulk density and compressive strength of the 28-day RAC were 2,328 kg/m³ and 29.42 N/mm² respectively which satisfied British Standards Institution (1997) BS 8110-1:1997 requirements for structural concrete.

Keywords: bulk density; compressive strength; construction waste; demolition waste; C&DW; coarse aggregates; recycled aggregates; recycling; structural concrete; waste management; workability; crushed granite; concrete rubble.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2016.082119

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2016 Vol.10 No.4, pp.123 - 132

Received: 29 Oct 2015
Accepted: 14 Sep 2016
Published online: 07 Feb 2017 *

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