National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

Study on Use of Recycled Coarse Aggregate

In Concrete
Hardik Gandhi#, Dr.Dharshana Bhatt*, Chetnaben Vyas**
#PG student Structural Engineering Department, B.V.M.Engg, college, v.v.nagar, Gujarat.
1
hardikgandhi13@gmail.com
*Associate professor, Structural Engineering Department, B.V.M.Engg, college, v.v.nagar, Gujarat.
2
darshanabvm@gmail.com
*Assistant professor, Civil Engineering Department, A.D.I.T, .Engg, college, New v.v.nagar, Gujarat
3
chetnavyas@yahoo.com

Abstract— There is a critical shortage of virgin aggregates and of all strength classes, and limited the concrete classes
hence the availability of demolished concrete for use as recycled when100% recycled construction waste is used.
concrete aggregate (RCA) is increasing. Using the waste concrete
as RCA conserves virgin aggregates, reduces the impact on
landfills, decreases energy consumption and can provide cost
savings. Recycled aggregates are comprised of crushed, graded
inorganic particles processed from the materials that have been
used in the constructions and demolition debris. Recycled
aggregates for application in high strength structural concrete,
which will give a better understanding on the properties of
concrete with recycled aggregate, as an alternative material to
coarse aggregate in structural concrete. In the present study
recycled coarse aggregate have been used to replace virgin coarse
aggregate. The properties of fresh as well as hardened concrete
Fig: 1 Recycled course aggregate
made of partial/full replacement of recycled coarse aggregate are
found out and the results are compared with that of concrete
using virgin coarse aggregate.
II. TESTING OF RECYCLED AGGREGATE
Keywords— Compressive strength, recycled aggregate,
Compaction factor, slump, rebound-
Hammer, Ultrasonic pulse velocity.
A. Particle size distribution: Sieve analysis was carried out for
coarse aggregate and fine aggregate which are to be used for
the concrete. The sieve sizes for coarse aggregate was from
40mm to 4.75mm and sieve sizes for fine aggregate was from
I. INTRODUCTION 2.36mm to 75μm.
Crushed concrete is available nowadays in large quantities,
Table-1
which results from the demolition of old structures and waste
PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF FINE & COARSE AGG
concrete from new structures. A report presented in 1999 to
the European Commission estimated the amount of non-
recycled construction waste to be 130 million t / year. The Aggregate Fineness Density Specific
area required for land filling this amount of waste is Modulus 3
(kg/m ) Gravity
equivalent to the accumulation of waste, 1.3 m high, over the
entire central Paris area (Symonds 1999). A decrease in the
compressive strength was generally observed in all concretes Fine Agg. 2.77 1752 2.50
in which the natural coarse aggregate was replaced with
recycled aggregate prepared by the crushing of old concrete. Coarse Agg. 7.086 1805.62 2.84
The mechanical properties of the concrete decreased with the
increase in the proportion of aggregate replaced. Recycle 7.476 1660.44 2.74
RILEMTechnical Committee 121-DRG (1994) recommended C.A.
that only 20% of the natural aggregate can be replaced with
recycled coarse aggregate in the preparation of new concrete

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 National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

Table-2
B. Slump Test: THE COMPECTING FACTOR RATIO FOR MIX CONCRETE
Slump test is used to determine the workability of fresh Percentage
concrete. The test is simple and cheap. It is suitable to use in of
the laboratory and also at site. Although the test is simple, but recycled 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
the testing has to be done carefully due to a huge slump may aggregate
obtain if there is any disturbance in the process. (w/c =0.55)
CF 0.839 0.897 0.933 0.875 0.851 0.879

Fig2: Slump test

C. Compacting Factor Test

Compacting factor test was also used to determine the
workability of fresh concrete as it gives a more accurate
workability of fresh concrete than slump test. The compacting
factor test is also known as the “drop test”, which measures
the weight of fully compacted concrete and compare it with
the weight of partially compacted concrete.
Fig4: compaction factor results (0.55w/c)
D. Non-destructive test:
(1) Schmidt’s Rebound hammer test:
Schmidt’s Rebound hammer developed in 1948 is one of the
commonly adopted equipments for the surface hardness. It
consists of a spring control hammer that slides on a plunger
within a tubular housing. When plunger is pressed against the
surface of the concrete, the mass rebound from the plunger. It
retracts against the force of the spring. The hammer impacts
against the concrete and the spring control mass rebounds,
taking the rider with it along the guide scale.
By pushing a button, the rider can be held in position to allow
the reading to be taken. Each hammer varies considerably in
performance and needs calibration for use on concrete made
the aggregate from specific source.
(2) Ultrasonic pulse test:
Ultrasonic pulse velocity method consists of measuring the
time of travel of an ultrasonic pulse, passing through the
concrete to be tested. This test measures the internal strength
of concrete.

Fig3: Compacting factor test

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 National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

Fig5: Rebound hammer test

Table 5
Table 3 Compressive strength (MPa) with age
RESULTS OF REBOUND HAMMER TEST
Percentage
Percentage
of
of
recycled recycled 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
aggregate aggregate
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Days Compressive strength (MPa)
3 15.46 20.45 10 15.33 14.3 12.8 Days Compressive strength (MPa)
7 14.16 15.9 14.76 16.93 12.46 14.16
3 23.11 26.14 25.3 28.96 25.07 21.41
7 29.78 31.11 31.4 33.92 27.63 31.4

Fig6: Ultrasonic pulse test Fig7: Rebound hammer test

Table 4 III RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

ULTRASONIC PULSE TEST RESULTS

Percentage of 1. Size distribution:

The recycled coarse aggregate are relatively coarser than the
recycled natural coarse aggregate. Hence the fineness modulus of 100%
aggregate recycled coarse aggregate is 7.476, which is slightly higher
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% than natural coarse aggregate of 7.086.
Days velocity(m/s) 2 .Physical and Mechanical Properties:
3 4110 4210 4190 3860 4020 4120 It is observed from table1 that the bulk density and specific
7 4160 3960 4160 4250 4230 4010 gravity of recycled coarse aggregate are 1660.44 kg/m3 and
2.74. The figures are less than that the natural coarse
Days compressive strength(Mpa)
aggregate of 1805.62 kg/m3 and 2.84 respectively. The
3 20.4 19.06 18.0 13.5 16.1 17.3
recycled coarse aggregate contains original aggregate attached
7 21.7 15.2 19.2 23.6 19.3 19.8
with mortar. The attached mortar is light and porous in nature.
Therefore, it is obvious that the specific gravity and density of
E. Compression Test: recycled aggregate are relatively less when compared to
Compressive strength of concrete can be defined as the natural aggregate. Due to lower specific gravity of recycled
measured maximum resistance of a concrete to axial loading. coarse aggregate, there is a reduction in amount of recycled
Compression test is the most common test used to test the coarse aggregate to be used in concrete.
hardened concrete specimens because the testing is easy to 3. Workability
make. The strength of the concrete specimens with different From the workability tests it is observed that the optimum
percentage of recycled aggregate replacement can be workability achieved in fresh concrete mix with 40%
indicating through the compression test. The specimens used replacement of RCA.
in the compression test were 150mmx150mmx150mm. 4. Compressive strength:
The variation in compressive strength of RCA with age is
presented in graph. It is observed that the recycled coarse

13-14 May 2011 B.V.M. Engineering College, V.V.Nagar,Gujarat,India

 National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

aggregate concrete at higher percentage of RCA attained more

early strength than normal concrete. It is observed that the
compressive strength is optimum with 60% replacement of the
Recycled coarse aggregate. The results of Rebound hammer
test and Ultrasonic pulse velocity tests are also in agreement
with the compressive strength of the concretes made with
various percentage replacement of RCA.

IV CONCLUTION

The experimental results show that the compressive strength

of concrete made of natural coarse aggregate and recycled
coarse aggregate is approximately same. Hence the recycled
aggregate can be used in concrete with partial or full
replacement of natural coarse aggregate.

References:
1. M.Chakradhara Rao “Recycled coarse aggregate and its
use in concrete”, ICI journal January-march 2011, pp. 27-
40.
2. Bureau of Indian standards (1970) Indian standard
specification for coarse (IS:2863) and fine aggregate (IS:383)
from natural sources.
3. Bureau of Indian standards IS:10262(1982 & 2009)
Indian standard recommended guide line for concrete mix.
4. M.S.SHETTY, Book on concrete technology.
5. RILEM (1994) Specifications for concrete with recycled
aggregates, materials and structures, 27, pp. 557- 559.

13-14 May 2011 B.V.M. Engineering College, V.V.Nagar,Gujarat,India