Mechanical Behavior of Recycled Fine Aggregate Concrete with High Slump Property in Normal- and High-Strength

Abstract This study investigated the mechanical behavior of normal strength (NS) and high strength (HS) concrete containing recycled fine aggregates (RFAs). A high slump mixing design was employed, which may be potentially used as filled structural concrete. The compressive strength, tensile strength, and elastic modulus were measured according to the RFA replacement ratio and curing time. In addition, the shrinkage strain was measured in a temperature and humidity chamber over 260 days. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of RFA concrete were approximately 70–90% of those of virgin concrete. The decreases in the compressive strength and elastic modulus for NS concrete were larger than those for HS concrete. This could be explained by the difference in failure mechanism between NS and HS concrete. The average ratio of the compressive strength at 190 days to that at 28 days was 1.15–1.3, and the ratio of the tensile strength at 190 days to that at 28 days was 1.15–1.25. These demonstrate good strength development. The ratios between the elastic modulus and compressive strength for RFA concrete were dissimilar to those for virgin concrete but similar to those for recycled coarse aggregate concrete. ACI 318-14 (Building code requirements for structural concrete and commentary, 2014) and Model Code (Fib model code for concrete structures, 2010) overestimated the elastic modulus of RFA concrete. Therefore, this study suggested an empirical expression to approximate the elastic modulus of RFA concrete. The increase in shrinkage owing to the use of RFA was at most 5–6% of the ultimate compressive strain of concrete.