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10/19/2015
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Research published in ACI’s Structural Journal last month explores how recycled concrete aggregate can reduce the environmental impact of concrete. In a paper titled “Sustained Service-Load Behavior of Concrete Beams with Recycled Concrete Aggregates,” the research looks to provide guidance for quantifying the effects of recycled concrete aggregates on the mechanical and structural behavior at service-level and ultimate limit states. According to Yahya Kurama, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame and one of the principal investigators of the research: “These results could be used by engineers to design concrete structures that incorporate varying amounts of recycled concrete aggregates for reduced environmental impact than concrete structures made with natural aggregates.” Concrete from Denver’s former Stapleton International Airport was recycled and reused on site. Photo courtesy of Recycled Materials Company, Inc. Understanding the effects of recycled concrete aggregate on fresh and hardened properties is essential to enable the use of the right level of recycled concrete aggregate as partial replacement of coarse aggregate without negative impact on the final concrete mixtures. Different concrete structures such as sidewalks, roads, and buildings reach the end of their service life every day, so the supply of recycled concrete aggregate is high. If concrete is not recycled, it ends up in a landfill, and in most urbanized nations, there is a decline of available disposal sites. Sources of good quality aggregates are becoming depleted, so the reuse of concrete as aggregates makes economic and environmental sense. Glass, paper, and rubber can also be used in recycled concrete. Even though significant strides have been made in recovering glass waste from municipal solid waste and recycling it to produce new glass, recent statistics released by Environmental Protection Agency as well as several states suggest that a substantial amount of glass is still disposed of in landfills. ACI is committed to working with its members and partners around the world to face industry challenges and achieve its goal of facilitating and communicating the sustainable and environmental benefits of concrete structures. ACI will continue to champion development of scientifically-backed consensus technical resources, advocate for integration of sustainability into Institute activities, and partner with leading authorities. Recycled Concrete Resources: The American Concrete Institute’s Committee 555, Concrete with Recycled Materials has produced ACI 555R-01, Report on Removal and Reuse of Hardened Concrete, and is working on a new report on Concrete with Recycled Materials as Aggregate. Additionally, the Institute has published Recycling Concrete and other Materials for Sustainable Development. The Concrete Convention and Exposition in Denver, CO, USA, November 8-12, 2015, will be hosting presentations on Concrete with Recycled Materials, as well as Concrete Sustainability Forum 8. Global experts will provide an update on new technologies, sustainability assessment systems, and sustainable design from countries around the world. Explore Recycled Concrete Web sessions
Research published in ACI’s Structural Journal last month explores how recycled concrete aggregate can reduce the environmental impact of concrete. In a paper titled “Sustained Service-Load Behavior of Concrete Beams with Recycled Concrete Aggregates,” the research looks to provide guidance for quantifying the effects of recycled concrete aggregates on the mechanical and structural behavior at service-level and ultimate limit states.
According to Yahya Kurama, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Notre Dame and one of the principal investigators of the research: “These results could be used by engineers to design concrete structures that incorporate varying amounts of recycled concrete aggregates for reduced environmental impact than concrete structures made with natural aggregates.”
Concrete from Denver’s former Stapleton International Airport was recycled and reused on site. Photo courtesy of Recycled Materials Company, Inc.
Understanding the effects of recycled concrete aggregate on fresh and hardened properties is essential to enable the use of the right level of recycled concrete aggregate as partial replacement of coarse aggregate without negative impact on the final concrete mixtures.
Different concrete structures such as sidewalks, roads, and buildings reach the end of their service life every day, so the supply of recycled concrete aggregate is high. If concrete is not recycled, it ends up in a landfill, and in most urbanized nations, there is a decline of available disposal sites. Sources of good quality aggregates are becoming depleted, so the reuse of concrete as aggregates makes economic and environmental sense.
Glass, paper, and rubber can also be used in recycled concrete. Even though significant strides have been made in recovering glass waste from municipal solid waste and recycling it to produce new glass, recent statistics released by Environmental Protection Agency as well as several states suggest that a substantial amount of glass is still disposed of in landfills.
ACI is committed to working with its members and partners around the world to face industry challenges and achieve its goal of facilitating and communicating the sustainable and environmental benefits of concrete structures. ACI will continue to champion development of scientifically-backed consensus technical resources, advocate for integration of sustainability into Institute activities, and partner with leading authorities.
Recycled Concrete Resources:
The American Concrete Institute’s Committee 555, Concrete with Recycled Materials has produced ACI 555R-01, Report on Removal and Reuse of Hardened Concrete, and is working on a new report on Concrete with Recycled Materials as Aggregate.
Additionally, the Institute has published Recycling Concrete and other Materials for Sustainable Development.
The Concrete Convention and Exposition in Denver, CO, USA, November 8-12, 2015, will be hosting presentations on Concrete with Recycled Materials, as well as Concrete Sustainability Forum 8. Global experts will provide an update on new technologies, sustainability assessment systems, and sustainable design from countries around the world.
Explore Recycled Concrete
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