Title: High Quality Recycled Aggregate Concrete (HiRAC) Processed by Decompression and Rapid Release

Author(s): H. Tamura, A. Nishio, J. Ohashi, and K. lmamoto

Publication: Symposium Paper

Volume: 200

Issue:

Appears on pages(s): 491-502

Keywords: compressive strength; decompression and rapid release (DC-RR); durability; high quality recycled aggregate concrete (HiRAC); transition zone

DOI: 10.14359/10597

Date: 6/1/2001

Abstract:
Quality of concrete with recycled aggregate is generally lower than that of virgin aggregate. The main reason is that, recycled aggregate with its higher water absorption property has porous mortar matrix around than that the virgin aggregate and hence develops an inferior bond. In order to improve the quality of recycled aggregate concrete, an innovative method is proposed in this paper. High quality recycled aggregate concrete HiRAC can be obtained through a decompression and rapid release (DC-RR) procedure applied after normal mixing of concrete with recycled aggregate. Through the DC-RR procedure, the quality of transition zone between aggregate and cement matrix can be dramatically improved. In this paper, experimental studies are described on the effectiveness of DC-RR procedure on some of the mechanical and physical properties of recycled aggregate concrete. It was found that, by applying the DC-RR procedure, compressive strength of recycled aggregate concrete can be increased by about 20%, creep and carbonation depth can be reduced by about 20% and 30%, respectively.