Waste aggregate concrete properties using waste tiles as coarse aggregate and modified with PC superplasticizer

Concrete is the most popular construction material and has a relatively high compressive strength and it does not crack under its own weight, but its tensile strength is much lower compared to its compressive strength. The compressive strength can be changed according to the water to cement ratio during concrete formation or mixing, while the tensile strength rises when additives are used, concrete needs reinforcing steel, and added to plain concrete, resulting in reinforced concrete. In other terms, concrete consists of sand or fine aggregate, gravel (which is a coarse aggregate), water, and cement (which is considered a bonding material), and it is a brittle material that needs reinforcement and also some admixtures to improve its low tensile resist. This research aims to increase and improve some mechanical properties of concrete by using waste tiles as coarse aggregate. The study includes replacing normal aggregates with waste tile and using them as crushed aggregate with 25, 50, 75, and 100% replacement. Studies show increment in compressive and tensile strength and flexural strength by using waste tile aggregate compared with ordinary concrete; compressive strength increased from 34.1 MPa for reference mixes without waste tiles to 39.8 MPa using waste tiles. The study included improving all mixes with polycarboxylate superplasticizer and gaining high strength concrete, especially mixes with 50, 75, and 100% waste tile aggregate; the compressive strength with totally waste tile replacement gave the highest value of compressive strength, which was 57.5 MPa, tensile and flexural strength also increased by using waste tile aggregate, and 100% replacement shows optimum values of mechanical properties in this study.