Relative moisture movement through recycled aggregate concrete

Abstract

This paper discusses the relative permeation characteristics (volume of voids and water absorption (ASTM C642-97) and sorption) of three strengths of concrete with (i) three maximum sizes of fresh granite aggregates (parent concrete), (ii) recycled concrete aggregates derived from each of three strengths of parent concrete, and (iii) two types of crushed brick aggregates. For a given strength, the volume of voids, water absorption and sorptivity of recycled aggregate concrete (i) reduces with increase in maximum size of aggregate used, (ii) increases with increase in strength of parent concrete from which the recycled aggregate is derived, and (iii) is higher for brick aggregate concrete than for concrete produced with crushed concrete aggregate. The variation in volume of voids, water absorption and sorptivity between parent concrete and recycled aggregate concrete reduces with increase in strength of concrete.