Investigation on Properties of Self Compacting Concrete with Recycled Aggregate

Abstract

The use of recycled fine aggregates (RFA) obtained from construction and demolition waste offers a sustainable alternative to natural sand in self-compacting concrete (SCC). This study experimentally evaluates the influence of 5% and 10% RFA replacement on the fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of SCC designed for M35 and M45 grades. All mixes satisfied SCC workability requirements with slump flow values between 681 and 718 mm, V-funnel times of 8.1–10.7 s, and L-box ratios above 0.85. Mechanical testing showed negligible strength reduction (~1%) at 5% replacement, while about 6% reduction was observed at 10% replacement after 28 days. Water absorption increased slightly but remained within acceptable limits (<6%). The findings indicate that limited RFA incorporation in SCC is technically feasible and can contribute to sustainable construction without significantly compromising performance.

Introduction

The construction industry generates significant construction and demolition (C&D) waste, leading to environmental and resource management concerns. One sustainable solution is the incorporation of recycled aggregates into concrete production. Self-compacting concrete (SCC), known for its high flowability and ability to consolidate without vibration, presents a promising application for recycled fine aggregates (RFA). However, due to higher water absorption and residual mortar content, RFA may affect fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of SCC.

This study investigates the effect of 5% and 10% RFA replacement of natural sand in M35 and M45 grade SCC under Indian standards. Materials used include OPC 43-grade cement, natural sand (Zone II), crushed granite coarse aggregates, Class F fly ash (25%), silica fume (9%), and a polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer. Mix designs were developed as per IS 10262:2019, with water adjustments to account for RFA’s higher absorption (6.7%).

Fresh Properties

All six mixes satisfied SCC requirements as per IS 1199 Part 6:2018:

• Slump Flow: All mixes achieved SF2 classification (660–750 mm). RFA caused only minor reductions in flowability (maximum 2.8% decrease at 10% RFA), but self-compacting ability was maintained.

• V-Funnel Test: All mixes met VF1 classification (6–12 s). Slight increases in flow time with RFA improved segregation resistance.

• L-Box Test: Passing ability remained acceptable (H?/H? ≥ 0.85), even at 10% RFA, confirming adequate reinforcement penetration.

Mechanical Properties (28 Days)

Compressive, split tensile, and flexural strengths followed consistent trends:

• At 5% RFA, strength reductions were negligible (around 1–2%).

• At 10% RFA, moderate reductions (about 5–7%) were observed.

• Strength ratios (tensile/compressive and flexural/compressive) remained stable, indicating no major change in failure mechanism.

• M45 grade showed slightly better resistance to performance reduction due to higher binder content.

Durability (Water Absorption)

Water absorption increased with RFA content due to higher porosity and residual mortar:

• Control mixes showed excellent performance (≈2–2.4%).

• 5% RFA mixes were classified as good.

• 10% RFA mixes were classified as fair.

• All values remained below the 6% limit, indicating acceptable durability for normal exposure conditions.

Key Observations

1. SCC maintained self-compacting properties after adjusting water for RFA absorption.

2. Strength reduction was predictable and minor at low replacement levels.

3. Mechanical behavior trends remained consistent across compressive, tensile, and flexural tests.

4. Durability slightly decreased with higher RFA but remained within acceptable limits.

5. Higher-grade SCC (M45) better compensated for RFA limitations.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that recycled fine aggregates from construction and demolition waste can be successfully incorporated in self-compacting concrete at limited replacement levels. Fresh concrete properties remained within SCC acceptance criteria for all mixes tested. Mechanical strength reductions were negligible at 5% replacement and moderate at 10%, while durability indicators showed manageable increases in water absorption. Overall, the results suggest that partial replacement of natural sand by recycled fines can be adopted in SCC without significant compromise in performance, offering a practical pathway toward more sustainable concrete production. Further studies on long-term durability and higher replacement levels are recommended to expand application potential.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Astik Prashar, Dr. Hemant Sood. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.