Experimental Investigation of Properties of Concrete Containing Recycled Construction Wastes

This research focused on investigating the effects of recycled aggregates on the material properties of concrete and the structural performance of reinforced concrete beams. Two different sources of recycled aggregates, crushed red bricks and demolished concrete, collected from local construction and demolition wastes, were analysed. The pre-wetting method was applied to recycled coarse aggregates aiming to study its effects on concrete specimens. Experimental results assisted by regression analysis revealed that the pre-wetting method could minimize the negative effects caused by recycled aggregate itself on the concrete slump and compressive strength test results. Pre-wetting method was also found improving the dynamic modulus of elasticity for concrete specimens. Adding supplementary cementitious materials was not as effective as the pre-wetting method in enhancing concrete slump, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), strength, or dynamic modulus of elasticity. The reduction of concrete UPV and compressive strength caused by recycled aggregates were more significant in the early curing age. Flexural tests on reinforced concrete beams indicated that although adding recycled concrete aggregates did not significantly change the beam failure load, the ultimate deformation of reinforced concrete beams was reduced by displaying more brittle failure behaviour. It was indicated that the failure mode of beam was changed from flexural to shear, inferring that shear capacity of beam with RCA was reduced. Future research directions were proposed focusing on the durability studies of concrete members containing recycled aggregates especially when the pre-wetting method was applied.