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Modulus and Strength of Concretes with Alternative Materials

Ana Elisabete Paganelli Guimarães de Avila Jacintho¹, Ivanny Soares Gomes Cavaliere¹, Lia Lorena Pimentel¹

¹Exact Sciences, Environmental and Technologies Center, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas 13086-099, Brazil.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

|October 6, 2020

Summary

This study investigated concrete using natural, recycled concrete (RCA), and waste porcelain aggregates (WPA). Waste porcelain aggregates demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to recycled concrete aggregates in concrete mixtures.

Area of Science:

Civil Engineering
Materials Science
Sustainable Construction

Background:

Conventional concrete production relies heavily on natural aggregates.
Recycled aggregates, such as recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and waste porcelain aggregates (WPA), offer sustainable alternatives.
Understanding the mechanical performance of concretes incorporating these recycled materials is crucial for their wider adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the influence of RCA and WPA on the mechanical properties of concrete.
To compare the performance of concrete utilizing WPA versus RCA.
To evaluate the accuracy of various design codes in predicting the elasticity modulus of concretes with recycled aggregates.

Main Methods:

Concrete mixtures were prepared using natural aggregates, RCA, and WPA.
Mechanical properties, including the elasticity modulus, were measured.
Measured elasticity moduli were compared against predictions from NBR 6118:2014, fib Model Code 2010, Eurocode 2:2004, and ACI 318:2014.

Main Results:

Concrete incorporating WPA exhibited better mechanical properties than concrete with RCA.
Measured elasticity moduli were lower than predicted values by NBR 6118:2014 and fib Model Code 2010.
Measured elasticity moduli were higher than predicted values by Eurocode 2:2004 and ACI 318:2014.

Conclusions:

Waste porcelain aggregates show promise as a superior alternative to recycled concrete aggregates in enhancing concrete's mechanical properties.
The Eurocode 2:2004 and ACI 318:2014 standards provide conservative (safer) predictions for the elasticity modulus of concretes with recycled aggregates compared to NBR 6118:2014 and fib Model Code 2010.
Further research into recycled aggregate utilization is recommended for sustainable construction practices.

Keywords:

concrete elasticity modulus natural aggregates recycled concrete aggregates waste porcelain aggregates

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