Abstract
This study investigates the potential of incorporating recycled fine aggregates (RFA) into sustainable concrete. In this research, a conventional compaction technique is utilized to establish the order of compressive strength and, consequently, to assess particle packing density in terms of weight within a specific cylindrical volume and evaluate workability, compressive and flexural strengths, splitting tensile strength, elasticity modulus, and microstructural properties (analyzed through XRD, SEM, and EDAX). The study found that RFA can improve concrete properties, hardened characteristics, and microstructure up to an optimum 25 % RFA replacement threshold (RFA 25). Beyond this value, concrete strength and microstructure deteriorate. RFA 25 exhibits significantly higher compressive (14.75 %), flexural (6.61 %), and splitting tensile (13.14 %) strengths compared with the reference concrete, along with a 5.71 % decrease in the modulus of elasticity. Lower replacement levels promoted pozzolanic reactions, enhancing strength through additional hydration products, whereas higher replacements reduced strength.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the staff of the Department of Civil Engineering at Delhi Technological University, Shahbad Daultpur Village, Rohini, New Delhi, for their significant support and help during the research.
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Harish Panghal is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Delhi Technological University, Delhi. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering (2013) and a master’s degree in structural engineering (2016). His research focuses on addressing the challenges associated with the development of sustainable concrete using construction and demolished waste, exploring potential solutions in this realm.
Awadhesh Kumar holds a master’s degree in structural engineering and obtained his Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2006 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. Presently, he serves as a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Delhi Technological University, Delhi. With a wealth of experience in civil engineering, his expertise extends to advanced concrete techniques and the structural design of tall buildings.
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Panghal, H., Kumar, A. Examining the structural viability of recycled fine aggregates in sustainable concrete. J Mech Sci Technol 38, 2931–2942 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-024-0513-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-024-0513-2