Author : A. E. Savva

In the context of sustainable development, recycling and usage of demolished concrete consists an alternative for natural resources, as well for the construction debris landfill. This waste concrete could be used as aggregate and thus a concrete made with such recycled aggregates is a material friendly to the environment. This paper examines the effect of homogeneity of origin concrete on the splitting and compressive strength in recycled aggregate concretes up to the age of six months. The same concretes are also testing concerning their resistance to chlorides, when the ions penetrate either through their bottom side or after 28 days wetting-drying cycles. Concretes made with 100% recycled aggregates as well others made with only the coarse aggregate recycled. The recycled aggregates produced from concretes either of uniform quality and age or others taken from tested conventional cubic specimen of different ages and strengths. The way in which the tested properties are affected varies, related to the homogeneity of the original concrete.

Keywords: Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Chlorides penetration, Wetting-drying cycles, Compressive strength

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.5, No.3 (June-2015)