Water absorption and frost heaving of recycled aggregates

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Construction materials 2013-06, Vol.166 (3), p.127-132
• Main Authors: AYAN, Vahid, OMER, Joshua R, LIMBACHIYA, Mukesh C, SEYED MASOUD NASR AZADANI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregates; Aggregates and other concrete constituents; Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Cement concrete constituents; Concretes; Exact sciences and technology; Frost; Heaving; Materials; Particle size; Pavements; Recovery materials; Recycled; Road construction. Pavements. Maintenance; Strength of materials (elasticity, plasticity, buckling, etc.); Structural analysis. Stresses; Surfacing; Transportation infrastructure; Water absorption
• ISSN: 1747-650X; 1747-6518
• DOI: 10.1680/coma.11.00037

Water absorption and frost heaving of aggregates have a strong influence on the performance of a highway pavement. This is because several mechanical properties of aggregates change in direct response to water ingress and ground freezing. In the present study, the opportunity was taken to study the water absorption and freeze-thaw properties of three different aggregates: (i) 100% recycled concrete aggregate, (ii) 100% natural aggregate from limestone rock, and (iii ) 50% recycled concrete aggregate + 50% reclaimed asphalt pavement. For different particle size ranges, extensive tests were carried out for each of the above materials ((i)-(iii )) using the pyknometer and wire basket methods as well as simulation in a self-refrigerated unit. Water absorption of recycled concrete aggregate decreased with increasing mean particle size. The measured relationships between density, grading and water absorption led to increased understanding of the behaviour of materials containing different fractions of recycled concrete aggregate and reclaimed asphalt pavement.