ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Mechanical and Environmental Evaluation
of Concrete Mix Using Aggregates Recycled
from Construction and Demolition Waste
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1
School of Rail Transportation, Soochow University, Suzhou 215131, China
2
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
3
Management of Business, Fisher College, Boston 02116, USA
4
Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing Botanical Garden,
Mem. Sun Yat-Sen, Nanjing 210014, China
5
Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Plant Resources and Water Environment Remediation,
Nanjing 210014, China
6
Jiangsu Suzhou Geological Engineering Survey Institute, Suzhou 215011, China
Submission date: 2021-12-29
Final revision date: 2022-03-03
Acceptance date: 2022-03-07
Online publication date: 2022-05-30
Publication date: 2022-07-12
Corresponding author
Qiang Tang
Soochow University, 215000, Suzhou, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(4):3929-3940
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ABSTRACT
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) has begun to take its toll on the environment. One option
to mitigate the negative influence is to utilize CDW as recycled aggregate (RA) in concrete production.
Recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) mixtures prepared by replacing natural aggregate (NA) with RA,
with expansive agent (EXP) and polypropylene fiber (PPF) as additives, have been cast to study their
mechanical properties and environmental impact. The results of compressive strength testing reveal
that both additives, EXP and PPF, have positive effects on the mechanical properties. The microscopic
analysis shows that the hydration reaction of EXP generates ettringite crystals which fill the internal
pores of the concrete and increase the compactness of the concrete. Fiber can significantly improve
the bonding between cement paste and aggregates, thus enhancing the deformation resistance
of concrete. Environmental analysis shows that the leaching amount of heavy metals is very limited
which is within 11.67% of the required value in China standard, and carbon emission of concrete
with RA as aggregates and fly ash as low-carbon binder is lower than that of concrete without RA.
The use of CDW recycled aggregates may significantly mitigate the environmental impact and improve
the sustainability during concrete production.