Crushed Concrete – Quality Issues of Concrete Recycling

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Abstract

According to current practice, structural concrete is designed to last for decades, and when a concrete structure reaches the end of its life cycle, it must be recycled in accor­dance with the principle of the circular economic approach. The presented experimental results expand the knowledge required for the re-use of recycled concrete aggregates pro­duced from crushed concrete in concrete and the re-use of recycled concrete fines as ce­ment additive. They represent the importance of appropriate, selective preparation technology and the role played by the material characteristics of crushed concrete in the develop­ment of certain properties of concrete. Knowledge of these relationships is not only useful for concrete technologists, but also for recycling plants that process concrete waste, since the cooperation of these stakeholders is necessary in order for crushed concrete to become a valuable product in the construction industry, instead of ending up as waste.