Structural concrete with simultaneous incorporation of fine and coarse recycled concrete aggregates: Mechanical, durability and long-term properties

- Structural concrete with fine and coarse recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) was studied.
- RCA of different origins were used: from real waste and produced in laboratory.
- The mechanical, durability and long-term performance of concrete with RCA was analysed.
- Similar performances using different RCA can be achieved.
- Total incorporation of RCA in the production of structural concrete is deemed possible.

This investigation intends to analyse the effects of the variation of different types of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) on structural concrete. For this purpose, two source concrete (SC) mixes, one produced in the laboratory and another in a precasting plant, were considered. The experimental campaign included mechanical, durability and long-term tests: compressive strength in cubes; splitting tensile strength; modulus of elasticity; abrasion resistance; water absorption by immersion and by capillarity; resistance to carbonation; resistance to chloride ion penetration; shrinkage and creep. The recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) mixes were compared with a reference concrete (RC) produced solely with natural aggregates (NA). Concerning the replacement percentages for fine and coarse recycled concrete aggregates (FRCA/CRCA%), the following were considered: 25/25; 50/50; 100/0; 0/100 and 100/100%. The results show that it is possible to achieve similar performances using RCA from different SC but with similar compressive strengths. In fact, RAC mixes achieved results comparable to RC in several properties.