Cost Optimization & Performance Assessment of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Natural Aggregates by Recycled Coarse Aggregates

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is a construction material, which is being used in the Indian construction industry more frequently than it was in the past. The environmental benefits associated with RCA use, such as reduced land filling and natural aggregate (NA) quarrying, have been identified by industry and government agencies. This has resulted in some incentives to use RCA in construction applications. Some properties of RCA are variable and as a result the material is often used as a structural fill, which is a low risk application. The use of RCA in this application is beneficial from an overall sustainability perspective but may not represent the most efficient use of the material. Efficient use of a material means getting the most benefit possible out of that material in a given application. The initial step in efficient material use is evaluating how a material affects its potential applications. In the case of RCA, this includes its use in concrete as a coarse aggregate. In this study, Recycled concrete aggregates are used in concrete in replacement of nominal concrete aggregates, replacement of various percentages like 15 & 25% have been done. After the duration of 3,7, 14 & 28 days cubes have been tested. This study also enhance the performance of the fresh and hardened properties of a proposed green concrete mixed using construction and demolition waste as a recycled aggregate curing with fresh water. Fresh and hardened properties of the concretes, including workability, strength gain, drying shrinkage, permeability, and microstructure, were characterized and studied. The study reveals that the use of RCA has substantial effects on concrete performance. These strategies, however, somewhat reduce the green aspect of the proposed seawater-mixed concrete with RCA.