Page 74 - ICJ Jan 2023

TECHNICAL PAPER COLLECTOR’S EDITION

Properties of recycled aggregate concrete

K. Ramamurthy and K. S. Gumaste

Recycled aggregate concrete can utilise demolition material from concrete and
masonry constructions. Though several studies have been made on the reuse
of concrete waste, only limited studies have been made with respect to use
of demolished brick masonry as aggregate. An attempt has been made in this
paper to assess the physical and mechanical properties of recycled aggregate
for its suitability in concrete making and study the strength and behaviour of
recycled aggregate concrete using three different types of demolition wastes, viz.,
concrete, wire-cut brick masonry and table moulded (country) brick masonry. The
compressive strength of recycled aggregate concrete is relatively lower and the
variation depends on the strength of parent concrete from which the aggregates
have been obtained. The range of compressive strengths obtained shows that
recycled concrete of different mixes made with recycled aggregates obtained
from i) demolished brick masonry can be used for manufacture of load bearing
masonry units and plain cement concrete (PCC) works, and ii) demolished concrete
aggregates can be used for both PCC and reinforced concrete (RC)construction.

R

ecycled aggregate concrete utilises demolition material from concrete and burnt

clay brick masonry construction as aggregate. Reuse of demolition waste avoids the problem of
waste disposal and is also helpful in reducing the gap between the demand and supply of crushed
granite fresh aggregate. While the amount of demolition waste materials generated in India has
not yet been quantified properly, it is thought that presently the yearly rate of demolition of
buildings and other structures in the major cities has reached 1 to 2 percent.

This is mainly due to the following reasons :

(i) demolition of structures which have become obsolete either in serving the basic functions
or due to structural deterioration
(ii) demolition of structures for better economic gains (through new construction)

The Indian Concrete Journal | November 2018 75