Recycled concrete aggregates in climate-neutral structural applications in transport infrastructure
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB,Borås |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 621 500 |
| Project duration | June 2017 - November 2019 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation program InfraSweden |
| Call | 2016-05323-en |
Important results from the project
The purpose was to investigate the impact of fractions of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) on the global structural behavior of reinforced concrete components in transport infrastructure. The project has demonstrated through experiments that, despite the coarse aggregate replacement fraction, that comparable mechanical properties of concrete with minimal deviation could be achieved. Reusing concrete from one source helps minimize uncertainty and enhance the quality of the concrete.
Expected long term effects
The project has contributed to demonstrating the potential for circular economy in construction as well as to the innovative development of transportation infrastructure and potential future business opportunities. Making use of RCA is a relevant trend that should be considered to achieve higher sustainability and material circularity in the construction industry. Recycling concrete from a single source can enhance the quality of RAC and minimize uncertainty. Moreover, reusing concrete from local aging infrastructures minimizes the environmental impact of transportation.
Approach and implementation
The project’s formulation followed the plan presented in the proposal, namely 1. Acquire and process concrete from a demolished structure into RCA, 2. Develop concrete mixtures with various fractions of RCA, 3. Characterize the mechanical behaviour of concrete with various fractions of RCA on the material level, 4. Characterize the global structural behaviour of concrete with various fractions of RCA on the structural level, and 5.Evaluate the environmental impact of using RCA in an edge beam.