EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE CONTAINING PRE-SOAKED RECYCLED FINE AGGREGATE

Recycled fine aggregate (RFA) becomes very significant and promising alternative materials for natural fine aggregate (river sand) to be used in the production of concrete. But, most of the past research works indicated higher water absorption capacity of RFA as one of the key factor to affect the properties of fresh concrete. Therefore, an experimental attempt has been made to address the issues related to water absorption capacity of RFA by soaking it in water for 24 hours prior to use as alternative fine aggregate for the production of the fresh concrete. Mechanical properties of concrete such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength, and durability properties such as resistance against acidic and alkaline environment, chloride permeability test for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC) based concrete mixes made with soaked recycled fine aggregates (SRFA) are determined, and analysed. For OPC, and PPC based concrete, respectively 4.32, and 20.75 % in compressive strength at 28 days; 2.69, and 27.24 % increase in flexural strength; 6.38, and 40 % increase in splitting tensile strength at 28 days were observed for the concrete mixes with SRFA compared to the mixes with RFA. Experimental results indicated notable improvement of the mechanical, and durability properties of concrete mixes when recycled fine aggregates were soaked in water prior to use. © 2022, Associated Cement Companies Ltd.. All rights reserved.