HBRC Journal Report: Recycling Reinforced Concrete and RCA

This report examines the increasing demand for recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and its utilization in various countries. It highlights the environmental and economic benefits of reusing concrete waste, including cost reduction and waste management improvement. The report discusses the properties of RCA, such as natural sand, coarse aggregates, and crushed concrete rubbles, and the need for additional cement to achieve desired compressive strength. It references research indicating that a 10% cement addition can make RCA concrete as strong as concrete made from natural materials. The report also acknowledges the economic benefits of using RCA, while noting that the need for extra cement can make its use less economical. The provided bibliography lists key research papers on the subject.

Recycling of reinforced concrete
The demand of recycled concrete materials in different countries is increasing due to
different reasons. Over the past, the concrete waste has not been used. The demand level per
year is about 26.8 billion tons per year1. Different countries over the past have experienced
increase in the RCA productions. Implementation of infrastructures in countries such as Egypt
and others has been experienced. This increase has increased the production of recyclable
concrete materials2. Re-use of recyclable aggregate materials has been recommended to help to
tame the negative impacts experienced on the environment. Aggregates are costly and re-use of
the recyclable aggregates helps to reduce the cost of construction.
Research has shown that in order to attain the high quality of quality control for the
concrete, additional cement is added. Addition of 10% has been found to be enough to make the
concrete made from recyclable aggregates to have same strength as concrete made from natural
materials. Re-use of the concrete wastes has helped to improve the environmental costs and
reduction of the concrete costs3. Some of the common types of recyclable aggregates which can
be used for the concrete include the natural sane which is used as fine aggregates, coarse
aggregates and crushed concrete rubbles. Waste management is highly achieved due to the
recycling of these concrete wastes. Nevertheless, the need to add additional cement to attain the
concrete compressive strength makes use of RCA un-economical. the use of these recyclable
materials have a net has some economic benefits.
Bibliography
1 Wagih, A.M Karmoty,, H.Z El- Ebid, M and Okba S.H. "Recycled Construction and Demolition Concrete Waste
As Aggregate for Structural Concrete." Hbrc Journal. 9.3 (2013). Print.
2 Nik.D Oikonomou. "Recycled Concrete Aggregates." Cement and Concrete Composites. 27.2 (2005). Print
3 Pierre,Matar, and Dalati Rouba E. "Strength of Masonry Blocks Made with Recycled Concrete Aggregates."
Physics Procedia. 21 (2011). Print.

Matar, Pierre, and Rouba E. Dalati. "Strength of Masonry Blocks Made with Recycled Concrete
Aggregates." Physics Procedia. 21 (2011). Print.
Oikonomou, Nik.D. "Recycled Concrete Aggregates." Cement and Concrete Composites. 27.2
(2005). Print.
Wagih, A.M, H.Z El-Karmoty, M Ebid, and S.H Okba. "Recycled Construction and Demolition
Concrete Waste As Aggregate for Structural Concrete." Hbrc Journal. 9.3 (2013). Print.