Successive recycled coarse aggregate effect on mechanical behavior and microstructural characteristics of concrete

With the increase in industrialization and urbanization, growing demand has enhanced rate of new constructions and old demolitions. To avoid serious environmental impacts and hazards recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) is being adopted in all over the world. This paper investigates successive recycled coarse aggregates (SRCA) in which old concrete made with RCA in form of concrete cubes was used. The cubes were crushed to prepare new concrete using aggregates from crushing of old concrete, used as SRCA. The mechanical behavior of concrete was determined containing SRCA; the properties of SRCA were evaluated and then compared with natural aggregates (NA). Replacement of NA with SRCA in ratio upto 100% by weight was studied for workability, mechanical properties and microstructural analysis. It was observed that with the increase in replacement ratio workability and compressive strength decreased but in acceptable limits so SRCA can be used in low strength concretes rather than high strength concrete structures.