EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION

ON
RECYCLED CONCRETE
By
Satish Bansal
Roll No.

MTSF 12-15

M.Tech. Structural Engg.

INTRODUCTION

Concrete has been the leading building material since it was first
used and is bound to maintain its significant role in the upcoming
future due to its durability, maintenance free service life,
adaptability to any shape and size, wide range of structural
properties plus cost effectiveness. The concrete is the most
important construction material which is manufactured at the
site. It is the composite product obtained by mixing cement,
water and an inert matrix of sand and gravel or crushed stone.

It undergoes a number of operations such as transportation,

placing, compaction and curing. The distinguishing property of
concrete is the ability to harden under water. The ingredients can
be classified into two groups namely active and inactive. The
active group consists of cement and water, whereas the inactive
group consists of fine and coarse aggregates. The inactive group
is sometimes also called inert matrix. Concrete has high
compressive strength but its tensile strength is very low. In
situations where tensile stresses are developed the concrete is
strengthened by using steel bars or short randomly distributed
fibres forming a composite material called reinforced cement
concrete (RCC) or fibre reinforced concrete.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND

DEVELOPMENT

The

Second

World

War

witnessed

large

scale

bombardment of cities resulting in vast amounts of

building
restrains,

ruble

and

fortifications.

transportation

problem

The

economic

and

lack

of

equipment to carry rubble posed hurdles in the path

of reconstruction. At the same time disposal of the
huge amount of demolition waste was also a big
problem.

The

concern

generate

quality

regarding

aggregate

possibility

using

to

demolished

concrete has been the mainstay of research on

concrete in the last two decades in many countries
including India. Research has been going on to study

PROSPECTS IN INDIA

Most of the Indian cities are littered with demolished material

and every open area has been used as dumping ground for
CDW and garbage. India is the second largest producer and
consumer of cement. The recycling of demolished concrete will
not only save the this open land from becoming dump yard but
will save enormous amount of natural resources , money and
will reduce carbon emission. It is the high time that the CDW is
recycled to produce aggregate of suitable sizes for use in new
concrete and bituminous mixes after appropriate treatment.

SOURCE OF DEMOLISHED CONCRETE AGGREGATE

In the present investigationn old concrete pieces were
collected from M/s Pooja Aggregate of Rampura crusher zone
near Manesar, who is specialized in dealing with demolished
concrete. The Aggregate were collected approximately 200 kg
each of coarse and fine aggregate on first week of Februaryy
2015.

CONSTRUCTION AND
DEMOLITION WASTE (C&D)
Construction

formed

and demolition (C&D) waste is

during

construction

processes

on

construction sites and in plants for production

of construction materials and elements.
Due

to large quantities of C&D waste its

disposal in landfills represents a serious

environmental problem. Therefore attempts
are made to separate waste according to the
type

of

material

and

applications for its reuse

to

find

possible

RECYCLED AGGREGATE
Recycled

concrete aggregates contain not only

the original aggregates, but also hydrated
cement paste. Recycling of concrete is a
relatively simple process. It involves breaking,
removing, and crushing existing concrete into a
material with a specified size and quality. In
general, applications without any processing
include:
Many types of general bulk fills.
Bank protection
Base or fill for drainage structures
Road construction
Noise barriers and Embankments

LIST OF EXPERIMENTS
PERFORMED
Physical Test on Coarse
Aggregate
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Sieve Analysis
Impact Value Test
Crushing Value Test
Elongation Test
Water Absorption

FINENESS MODULUS
In

1925, Duff Abrams introduced the concept

of fineness modulus (FM) for estimating the

proportions of fine and course aggregates in
concrete mixtures. The premise: "aggregate
of the same fineness modulus will require the
same quantity of water to produce a mix of
the same consistency and give a concrete of
the same strength."

FINENESS MODULUS
IS

383: It divides the sand in four

zones i.e. from Zone I to Zone IV.
Zone ISand being very coarse
and Zone 4 sand is very fine. It is
generally recommended by code
to use sands of zones I to Zone III
for Structural concrete works. The
fineness
modulus
was
kept
between 2.5 to 2.8

Prepared
M 30 2 Mixes

Each Mix Contains Recycled

Aggregate 0%, 50% & 100%

Admixture & Fly Ash Mixed as

per design

MIXING AND COMPACTION

The component material were weighed on the weighing
machine . Mixing of component material was done manually.
Coarse , fine aggregate, fly ash and cement thoroughly mixed
in dry state so as to get the homogeneous mixture. Suitable
water and admixture was added slowly in controlled method
to get the uniform concrete mix. The mixing process lasts to
4-5 minutes

with using cast iron mould & concrete mould

were cast. The compaction was done by using the vibrator for
about 2-3 minutes. Excess material was struck off, Top surface
was given smooth finish. The concrete specimen were

SIZE OF MOULDS

S. No

Moulds

Size (mmxmm)

Specimen casted

1.

Cube

150x150x150

2.

Cylinder

100x300

Bond Strength

3.

Cylinder

150x300

Split Tensile Strength

4.

Beam

150 x 150 x 700

Compressive Strength

Flexural strength

WORKABILITY TEST
Slump

test was conducted to asses the

workability of fresh control concrete and
concrete containing recycled aggregate.
For each mix in the test program, a
sample of freshly mixed concrete is
placed and compacted by rod in a
frustum of cone mold. The slump value
is equal to vertical distance between the
original and displaced position of the
center of the top surface of the concrete
after raising a mold.

TEST PERFORMED ON CONCRETE

Workability Test
Compression Test
Pull Out Test
Split Tensile Strength Test
Flexural Test

TESTING PROCEDURE
After the specified period of curing the specimens were
taken out of the curing tank and their surfaces were wiped
off. The various tests were performed as described below.

Compressive Strength of cubes at 7 & 28 days

Split Tensile Strength of cylinders at 7 & 28 days

Bond Strength (by Pull-out test) of cylinders at 7 & 28 days

Flexural Strength Test of cylinders at 7 & 28 days.

COMPRESSION TEST
All

mixes discussed before in the

experimental program were prepared, cured,
and tested for compressive strength at 7 and
28 day. Standard 150mm cubes were used
for compressive strength. The cubes were
filled with fresh concrete in two layers and
each layer was tamped 25 times with a
tamping rod. Immediately after prepared
cubes, the specimens were covered to
prevent water evaporation.

Variation of Compressive Strength of concrete with Age

Table 4.1 Compressive Strength of concrete M30 (W/C=0.38) at different ages

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

Compressive Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-30

.38

28.55

24.84

21.41

2.

M-30

.38

28

40.98

35.65

30.70

Table 4.2 Compressive Strength of concrete M35 at (W/C=0.37) different ages

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

Compressive Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-35

0.37

31.02

26.98

23.27

2.

M-35

0.37

28

43.13

37.52

32.35

The compressive strength of recycled aggregate is

less than that of natural aggregate concrete at various
ages because recycled aggregate absorbs more water
and has low specific gravity than that of natural
aggregate. It is found to be 13% less at 7 days and
25% less at 28 days.

BOND STRENGTH

The resistance of concrete to the slipping of reinforcing bars

embedded in concrete is called bond strength. The bond
strength is provided by adhesion of hardened cement paste
and by the friction between concrete and reinforcement.

It is also affected by the shrinkage of concrete relative to

steel. On an average bond strength is taken approximately
as 10% of the compressive strength. The roughness of the
steel surface, water, the chemical composition of cement
and steel bar diameter are the factors that affect the bond
strength of concrete.

The pull-out test specimen consists of bar

embedded in a concrete block. The load is applied
at the free end of the bar and is resisted by the
resistance to withdrawal of the steel embedded in
the block.
Two cylinders specimens of 100mm diameter and
300 mm in height with 12mm diameter bar
embedded in the fall length of 300mm of the
cylinder at the centre were casted. The pull-out
test specimens were tested after 7 & 28 days of
wet-curing on universal test machine, using pullout test attachment. The curve between bond
strength and compressive strength was plotted.

BOND STRENGTH
4.4

Variation of Bond Strength with age

Table 4.7 Bond Strength of concrete M30 (W/C=0.38) at different age

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

Bond Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-30

.38

2.93

2.54

2.35

2.

M-30

.38

28

4.35

3.78

2.47

Table 4.8 Bond Strength of concrete M35 (W/C=0.37) at different age

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

1.

M-35

.37

2.

M-35

.37

Bond Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

3.23

2.81

2.45

28

5.03

4.29

3.79

The bond strength of recycled aggregate is less than that of natural aggregate concrete at various ages
because recycled aggregate absorbs more water and has low specific gravity than that of natural
aggregate. In 75% cases the grip between steel and concrete will not fail and in the other 25% cases steel
reaches its yield stress and grip between steel and concrete fails.

Split Tensile Strength

The

splitting tests are well known indirect test

used for determining the tensile strength of
concrete. The tests were conducted at the age
of 7 & 28 days.
The magnitude of this tensile stress is given by
2PDL = 0.637P/DL

SPLIT TENSILE STRENGTH

4.4 Variation of Tensile Strength with age
Table 4.4 Split Tensile Strength at different ages M-30 (W/C=0.38)
S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

Tensile Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-30

0.38

3.8

3.3

2.8

2.

M-30

0.38

28

4.6

3.6

3.1

Table 4.5 Split Tensile Strength at different ages M-35 (W/C=0.37)

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

Tensile Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-35

.37

4.2

3.6

3.2

2.

M-35

.37

28

4.8

4.2

3.6

The tensile strength of recycled aggregate is less than that of natural aggregate concrete at
various ages because recycled aggregate absorbs more water and has low specific gravity
than that on natural aggregate.

FLEXURAL STRENGTH
The determination of flexural strength is essential to estimate the load at which the
concrete member may crack. The flexural strength is used in design of pavement
slab and air field run as flexural tension is critical in these cases.
The standard specimen is 150 x 150 x 700 mm over a span of 500 to 600 mm under
two point symmetrical loading. The modulus of rupture is determine from moment
at failure as fr = M/z
Table 4.10 Flexural strength of M30 (W/C = 0.38) at different ages.
Flexural Strength (N/mm2)
S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)
%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

1.

M-30

.38

3.6

3.2

2.

M-30

.38

28

4.6

3.8

3.3

Table 4.11 Flexural strength of M35 (W/C = 0.38) at 7 and 28 days.

S. No.

Mix

W/C

Age (Days)

1.

M-35

.37

2.

M-35

.37

Flexural Strength (N/mm2)

%R=0

%R=50

%R=100

3.9

3.4

2.9

28

4.6

4.0

3.5

Flexural strength of concrete M30 and M35 at 28 days was less due to recycle
aggregate absorbed more water and has low specific gravity than natural aggregate.

CONCLUSION

From the study as above it is well established that use of RCA not
only result in saving of precious saving of natural resources which
are vanishing but also significant saving in cost

RCA material can be used without any change in mix design upto
50% RCA and can be used upto 100% with small and suitable
change in mix design with addition of suitable stabilizer

Whenever recycled aggregate is used, water content in concrete

mix has to be watched carefully as the water absorption capacity of
RCA varies.

RCA is easy to obtain and cost cheaper than virgin/ fresh aggregate

Use of RCA environmental problem is also tackled as we have to

consume large open space for their disposal

It can be said it is a creative and environment friendly solution

to use demolished concrete as aggregate and it means that need of
hour is reuse, recycle.

SCOPE FOR FUTURE STUDY

The strength characteristics of recycled aggregate
concrete can be further studied by taking into account
the following parameters:
Instead

of using deformed steel bars mild steel bars

can also be used.
Using rusted (deformed or mild steel) bars in place of
non rusted steel bars.
Using fibre concrete in place of plain concrete.
Using different diameter of bars such as 16, 20, 25 &
36mm etc for calculating bond strength using pull-out
test.
Using different grades of cement i.e. 33 and 53 grade.
With different type and grading of sand.

ECONOMICS OF RECYCLED
CONCRETE
The recycled concrete is obtained from construction and demolished waste which is available free of
cost in most of the places and consuming lot of open space apart from giving shabby looks.
Dismantle concrete can be re-used after production of RCA of desired quality by mixing of stabilizer.
To produced RCA from crushing of C&D waste, following steps with relative cost is as under.
1:- Breaking of blocks of concrete into bolder size
i.e. 6 to 8 mechanically or manually
@ Rs.125/ cum
2:- Carriage of broken material to the crusher site
( alternatively if quantity is more than mobile
crusher may be used with an average lead of 30km @ Rs. 250/ cum
3- cost of crushing
@ Rs. 150/ cum
4- carriage of RCA to the work site within average
lead of 15-20km
@ Rs. 250/ cum
In addition if the cost of dismental concrete is also taken
into account which is approx.Rs. 1200-1500/12-15 cum @ Rs.100/ cum
Total cost to produced RCA/ cum
@ Rs. 875/ cum
-: The cost of virgin coarse aggregate at present in
Haryana state / NCR is approximately as per quality
and location .
@ Rs.1250 1350
-: If mobile crusher and screening unit is installed at
site , if large quantity of C &D waste is available
which result in further reduction of cost in transportation
(to and fro of dismantle and recycled material) appx.
@ 300-400 / cum

THANK YOU