Production of green concrete using recycled waste aggregate and byproducts

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the sustainability benefits of using demolition and industrial wastes as a replacement for aggregates and cement in traditional concrete mixes.

Design/methodology/approach

Crushed concrete from demolition sites served as a replacement for fine and coarse aggregate in some of the mixes at various ratios. In addition, ground granulated blast furnace slag, metakaolin, silica fume, and fly ash each served as a cement replacement for cement content in the mixes tested in this research at various rates. Compression strength tests, permeability, and thermal expansion tests were performed on various mixes to compare their performance to that of traditional mixes with natural aggregate, and with no cement replacement.

Findings

The compressive strength results indicated the suitability of using such demolition wastes as replacements in producing green concrete (GC) without hindering its mechanical characteristics significantly. In addition, the results indicated an enhancement in the mechanical characteristics of GC when replacing cement with pozzolanic industrial wastes and byproducts.

Originality/value

The research assesses the utilization of sustainable GC using recycled waste aggregate and byproducts.

Citation

Al-Gahtani, K., Alsulaihi, I., Ali, M. and Marzouk, M. (2017), "Production of green concrete using recycled waste aggregate and byproducts", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 413-425. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-09-2016-0047