EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF MODIFIED MIXTURE METHODS AND ADDING RICE HUSK ASH IN CONCRETE FROM RECYCLED AGGREGATES
recycled aggregate concrete; mixing method; construction and demolition waste.
The use of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has become more relevant, especially due to economic and environmental matters. The current trend in developed economies is to treat the C&DW as a potential resource for many purposes, including as aggregates for concrete. Its use as aggregate, however, can worsen the concrete’s properties. Some of the alternatives capable of reducing the negative impact of C&DW in concrete are the use of modified concrete mixing methods, and the addition of pozzolans. The purpose of this research is to measure and analyze the improvement to the compressive strength, microstructure and workability of concretes made with C&DW as coarse aggregates, by variating pozzolan additions and concrete mixing methods. The C&DW was obtained from the Belo Horizonte waste recycling station. After the waste was collected, it was submitted to a cleaning process, removing identified sources of contamination. The C&DW initial moisture content was assessed before the concrete was prepared. In total, eight concrete mixtures were prepared with different levels of C&DW as coarse aggregate (0 and 100%), using rice husk ash and with the Triple Mixing Method and Two-stage mixing approach. Compressive strength, slump and water absorption tests were performed. The concrete microstructure was assessed with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mixtures manufactured by the TM obtained higher compressive strength and higher water absorption than the mixtures prepared with use of TSMA. The SEM analysis pointed out a denser ITZ in the concrete mixtures manufactured by TM, showing a higher concentration of cement hydration products in the ITZ, especially when rice husk ash was used.