EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON RECYCLED COARSE

AGGREGATES AS BUILDING MATERIALS FOR

CONSTRUCTION
Donboklang Syiemlieh1 and Gitartha Kalita2
1
M.Tech student,Deptt. of Civil Engg.,ADBU, Assam, syiemlieh19@gmail.com
2
Assistant Professor, Deptt. of Civil Engg.,ADBU,Assam, gitartha7@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present study represents the information related to the use of recycle coarse aggregates as
building material for construction in North East India. We all know that North East India
receives the highest number of earthquakes compared to the other parts of the country;
therefore, recycled coarse aggregates in these regions are rarely used especially for big
constructions. By knowing this, we have finish to inquire from the construction workers and
they informed us that only certain minor and small constructions can be made like the lid of a
septic tank, concrete pavement, flooring etc. since most people were unwilling to progress
constructions related to recycled coarse aggregate concrete structures because of massive
earthquake occurring in these regions. But, to protect the lands green and secure, conversion
of demolished waste materials into reusable construction materials and preserve the
environment through resource conservation are needed in this region. The main objective of
this paper is to find out the strength of recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) compared to its
original coarse aggregates (OCA) by performing a series of tests such as compressive strength,
impact test and Los Angeles abrasion test. Results have been found out that there is a wide
decrease on compressive strength but give an increase value on impact and LAA test.

Key Words: Recycled Coarse Aggregate, Earthquake, Demolished waste materials,

Environment, Resource Conservation.

INTRODUCTION

With an enormous increase of population in the country, large percentages of land have been
covered with residential buildings, high rise buildings and industries which have led to the
exploitation of natural resources and increasing pollution. This effect will later cause a massive
threat to the environment and the lives of many due to global warming. But, with the influence
of global modernization and recent advanced technologies of architectural designs, people are
more interested in demolishing the age old structures to construct modern buildings. Therefore,
large amount of concrete waste is generated from construction and demolition work. In order
to eradicate these problems that affecting the environment, the civil engineering sector has
taken up the initiative to focus on a significant percentage of global material and reduce energy
consumption of waste material. The capability which helps to reuse, reduce and recycle the
concrete as well as demolition of waste materials is unfavourable, leading to diminish
environmental impacts to meet the state targets. However, to achieve sustainable development
in construction area/sites, researchers and companies took up a new step to promote on a type
of waste concrete as their new construction material. This waste material is called recycled
aggregate, a type of coarse aggregate which is collected from demolition sites and put them
together into a construction machine, a construction material that the community do not need
to pay for those who recycled and generate demolished waste.  Hence, by recycling these
demolished waste materials (fig.1), it will help to preserve the natural resources, effective
utilization of growing waste stream, reduce the burden of landfill space and solid waste
management system. The recycled aggregates used in this project were taken from the
demolished concrete cubes in and around the college campus. Most of the concrete cube wastes
were taken from the laboratory room which have already performed by the students. The
concrete cubes were later gets crushed and recycled coarse aggregates as well as some residues
extracted from it were produced. The use of recycled aggregates in concrete enables how to
improve the unused building materials in technical, environment and economical aspects. It
can also be used to prevent from excess landfill, pollution and other harmful substances.

Figure 1 Recycled and Original concrete cube.

Figure 2 Original coarse aggregates (OCA) and Recycle coarse aggregates (RCA).

EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME

Test programmes of various experiment enables how recycled coarse aggregate can build its
strength and performances based on the objective of the research studied. The experimental
tests used for RCA concrete as a construction material were discussed below:
Compressive strength of RCA concrete
Compressive strength of concrete is commonly considered as most valuable property in
mechanical properties because it usually gives an overall picture of the quality of concrete and
it is directly related with other properties. The compressive strength when using with RCA is
almost the same compared to ordinary concrete in terms of age, workability and other physical
properties. The compressive strength of RCA can be obtained by using a compression testing
machine (1000KN) each division of 5KN, available in the laboratory room. A nominal mix of
M20 strength is taken and according to its ratios (i.e 1:1.5:3), it has been divided the quantities
of cement, RFA and RCA for mixing. A nominal water cement ratio is taken as 0.45 as
prescribed in the IS: 456-2000. RCA are taken by using sieve analysis passing through 20mm
and retained at 10mm whereas; RFA samples are taken when passing through 600 micron and
retain up to 90 micron. Below 90 micron it cannot be possible since it is a residue. A cube of
15x15x15 cm is used in order to cast the concrete for 24 hours and is later cure at different
ages. With the help of compression testing machine it enables how to crush the RCA to its
higher strength until it fails to compress. The tests were used for 7 days, 14 days and 28 days
and results of this test were explained in table 2 and figure 3.
Impact Test of RCA Concrete
Impact value is also one of the valuable property that helps to determine the toughness of
aggregates by breaking down into tiny pieces in order to access suitability in transportation
sector particularly road construction. The impact test is obtained with the help of an impact
testing machine (60kg) available in the laboratory room and the apparatus for testing of
aggregates is used as per IS: 2386 (Part IV)-1963. The steps of using the ordinary aggregates
are same for RCA.A sample is taken when pass through 12.5mm and retained at 10mm sieve.
It is then filled into a cylindrical cup in three layers each tamping 25 strokes of tamping rod
and weigh (A). The cylindrical cup is fixed firmly in position on the base of an impact machine
where the sample is subjected to 15 such blows by allowing the impact machine hammer to fall
freely on the aggregates with an interval of not less than a second where aggregates are crushed
into small pieces. After crushing is over, remove the sample from the cylindrical cup and sieve
on IS 2.36 mm in order to weigh the small aggregates (B) and find out the results as shown in
Table 1. Hence, the aggregate impact value is taken as-
Aggregate Impact Value=
Los Angeles Abrasion Test

Los Angeles Abrasion test on aggregates is one of the few opted test used for crushing the
aggregates into small fine particles which enables to determine the aggregate toughness and
abrasion resistance such as crushing, degradation and disintegration. This test is obtained with
the help of a Los Angeles Abrasion machine as per ASTM C 131, available under the laboratory
room and apparatus used for testing of aggregates is taken as per IS:2386 (PartIV)-1963. A 5kg
sample for each grading A, B, C and D is taken where aggregates were placed and weigh
according to their different sieve sizes passing from 40mm and retained at 4.75mm. The
aggregates were placed inside the rotating machine along with steel spheres weighing 390gm
each, at a speed of 20-30 rev. /min for 500 revolutions, where different aggregate grading
requires different number of steel spheres. After complete rotation, remove the entire sample,
place on a tray and sieve on IS 1.70mm for complete separation. Table 1 below shows the
results of the tests.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 Test results of various laboratory experiments.

 Table 2 Compressive Strength of concrete

Serial Name of Company IS Code Range Avg. Avg. % %

No. Experiments Name used Value of value value decrease increase
each of of
experiments OCA RCA
 

1 Specific Soil Lab, IS:

Gravity A house 2386(PART-
of III)-1963 2.5-3.0 1.272 1.257 1.179
material
testing
equipment
(An ISO
9001:2008
Company)

2 Water Soil Lab, IS:

Absorption A house 2386(PART-
of III)-1963 0.1-2.0% 1.053 1.828 73.59
material
testing
equipment
(An ISO
9001:2008
Company)
<10%
(strong)
Soil Lab,
A house 10-20%
3 Impact test of IS: 2386 (good) 32.15% 33.98% 5.69
material (Part IV)-
testing 1963 <35%
equipment (satisfactory)
(An ISO
9001:2008
Company)
Grade A

IS:2386 <40% 37.6% 39.2% 4.255

(Part IV)- Grade B
Soil Lab, 1963
A house <40% 36.3% 37.1% 2.21
4 Los Angeles of ASTM C Grade C
Abrasion test material 131
testing <40% 31.15% 34.25% 9.96
equipment Grade D
(An ISO
9001:2008 <40% 35.2% 36.8% 4.545
Company)

Serial Name of Company IS Range Avg. Avg. % %

No. Experiments Name Code Value of value of value of decrease increase
used each Original Recycled
experiments concrete concrete
Soil Lab,
A house IS:
of 10262-
Compressive material 2009
1 strength of testing 13 N/mm2 13.78 7.630 44.63
concrete at equipment
7 Days (An ISO IS:
9001:2008 456-
Company) 2000

2 14 Days 18 N/mm2 17.6 8.667 50.75

3 28 Days 20 N/mm2 19.88 11.55 41.90

Figure 3 comparison of compressive strength of concrete between original concrete and
recycled concrete.

1. A slight difference in output of specific gravity between ordinary concrete and RCA
because the RCA from demolished concrete consists of crushed stone aggregate with
old mortar adhering to it but does not meet the value requirements as per IS Code.
2. Water absorption of RCA gives more percentage than ordinary concrete because of the
old mortar adhered to the surface of aggregate which later contribute towards decrease
of strengths.
3. Compressive strength of concrete in RCA does not attain higher strength compared to
ordinary concrete as per IS code. This is because RCA being a demolished concrete, it
can be possible that combined sand and gravel may contained when cast inside the cube
hence, w/c ratio is more. Hence, we need to add different types of admixtures in order
to enhance the strength of concrete.
4. In Impact test, the values obtained between ordinary concrete and recycle coarse
aggregate concrete were almost similar. Hence, using RCA is also fit to assess
suitability in transportation sector.
5. The values of RCA and ordinary concrete in various grading obtained during the Los
Angeles abrasion test are satisfactory. RCA can also be used in order to enhance the
toughness and give suitability in transportation sector.

CONCLUSIONS

From the literature review that has been studied so far, we have come across various detections
that can be collaborated to fulfil the scope of our future work. Elaboration to our extent, the
use of recycled coarse aggregate for small constructions can bring up great importance and
benefits to the people especially in the field of transportation engineering.

As we know that, North East India, being smaller in area with maximum population,
environmental pollution and excess landfill of recycled coarse aggregates in this region can
degrade huge impact to mankind because of unclean health. Therefore, to eradicate the
aggregate wastes, it will enable to decrease the burden of landfill by converting the waste
materials into reusable construction materials, cost effectiveness and environmental pollution
free. The benefits below enable to define our research study by upgrading various scopes for
future works.

• To check the strength of recycled coarse aggregates.

• To reduce the burden of landfill spaces.

• To make bricks since they are lightweight in nature.

• To build cost effective construction works (flooring, pavements, lids of septic tanks
etc).

Since, it was observed that the compressive strength obtained was comparatively less.
Therefore, in further works, we can add different admixtures in order to enhance the strength.
The samples obtained from RCA were comparatively lightweight. Even though the crushing
test has not been done but, the fineness of RCA had less variations from that of the ordinary
aggregates which were used in making the concrete structural elements which will later on
recycled after destruction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The work presented in this paper is the work done by Donboklang Syiemlieh and Gitartha
Kalita at Assam Don Bosco University, Assam.

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