Properties of masonry mortars manufactured with fine recycled concrete aggregates

This research evaluates the short- and long-term properties of masonry mortar manufactured with different replacement ratios of natural sand by fine recycled concrete aggregates. The recycled materials were collected from a recycling plant and after passage through a 4 mm sieve, were directly used to make the mixtures, maintaining their original particle size distribution. A pozzolanic CEM-IVIA (V) 32.5 N, with 29% fly ash in its compositions, was used at a 1:7 volumetric cement-to-aggregate ratio. Five mortars with different replacement ratios by volume were tested: 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 40%. The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance to determine whether the "replacement ratio" had a statistically significant effect on the different fresh and hardened properties. DRX and electron microscope techniques were used to examine the morphologies ancLevolution of the main mineral phases over time during a curing period of 180 days. The results proved that a replacement ratio of up to 40% is a viable alternative for producing environmentally friendly masonry mortar. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.