Establishing a relationship between modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of recycled aggregate concrete

This paper provides a systematic literature review, based on the identification, appraisal, selection and synthesis of the evidence of 121 publications published over a period of 43 years from 1973 to 2015, relating to the effect of incorporating recycled aggregates, sourced from processed construction and demolition waste, on the modulus of elasticity of concrete. It identifies various influencing aspects related to the use of recycled aggregates such as replacement level, size and origin, as well as mixing procedures, exposure of the resulting concrete to different environmental conditions, use of chemical admixtures and additions, and development of the modulus of elasticity over time. A statistical analysis on the collated data is also presented with the purpose of understanding the loss of modulus of elasticity, based on quality and replacement level of recycled aggregates. Furthermore, a relationship between modulus of elasticity and compressive strength, in accordance with existing specifications for conventional structural concrete, is also proposed.