An overview on the experimental methods for the evaluation of properties and durability performance of RCA-containing concrete

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2020-12, Vol.614 (1), p.12076
• Main Authors: Ngenge, J P L, Akpinar, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Buildings; Civil engineers; Concrete; Concrete aggregates; Construction; Construction industry wastes; Construction materials; Durability; Earthquakes; Environmental degradation; Experimental methods; Literature reviews; Parameters; Raw materials; Research methodology; Seismic activity; Service life; Waste materials; Waste storage
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/614/1/012076

The usage of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) originates from buildings' demolishing and increased demand in construction. Demolishing could be due to completion of building's service life or its pre-mature failure as well as due to other reasons such as wars or earthquakes. In such cases, wastes of demolished buildings pose a threat to nature. RCA usage avoids the environmental degradation resulting from excessive extraction of raw materials to produce natural aggregates (NA) and storage of waste materials from devastated structures. Since RCA originates from construction waste, it becomes important to ensure the quality of new structure to be erected using RCA. From this perspective, the examination of general properties and long-term durability of RCA is vital. Hence, an understanding on the critical parameters to be inspected and experimental procedures are essential. This paper aims to provide a compact overview on the crucial parameters defining the quality, properties and the durability of RCA-containing concrete for the civil engineers and researchers aiming to work in this field. The adopted approach for this study implies a systematic literature review that copes with collecting essential information on this topic from existing respected studies from all around the world and the standard codes covering practices for related issues. The found results asserts that, performing tests on each type of waste materials irrespective of theirs sources is vital. For structural usage, the replacement of RCA with respect to the NA shall not be more than 30%. Finally, the usage of finer RCA shall be minimum for the better performance of RCA-concrete containing.