A systematic comparison of performance of recycled concrete fine aggregates with other alternative fine aggregates: An approach to find a sustainable alternative to river sand

Abstract

Natural river sand is preferred as fine aggregate. A large percentage of concrete comprises fine aggregates and hence river sand is over-mined due to the higher demand in the construction sector. Mining of natural river sand affects river banks and is banned in many countries. Earlier studies suggested recycled aggregates as an alternative to river sand. Although studies on the use of recycled fine aggregates have been reported, a systematic review on the comparison of recycled aggregates with other alternative fine aggregates is highly limited. Hence, the present review comprehensively compares the performance of recycled fine aggregates concretes with other alternative fine aggregates such as granite dust, crushed rock, ceramic waste, recycled glass aggregates, recycled brick aggregates, recycled plastic aggregates, and recycled rubber aggregates. Fresh, mechanical, durability properties such as compressive strength, workability, modulus of elasticity, split tensile strength, flexural strength, carbonation, chloride ion penetration, water absorption, sorptivity, permeability, abrasion, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and shrinkage of various alternative fine aggregate used concrete are meticulously compared. The water absorption for recycled concrete fine aggregate used concrete is found to be within the permissible limit for replacement levels of river sand in-between 15%-45%. Research studies also suggested better sorptivity values for recycled concrete fine aggregate used concrete for replacement levels of fine aggregate between 5% and 25%