Optimum Utilization of Alternate Material for Aggregates—An Approach for Waste Management in Urban Areas for Sustainability

The development of sustainable infrastructure in the modern era involves the consumption of resources on a large scale. Due to population explosion and resulting increase in demand for infrastructure, the conservation of natural resources has become exceptionally challenging. Urbanization and hence disposal of various kinds of waste generated is a menace to the environment. Construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) is one such material which when finds suitable place in construction industry, addresses the shortage of naturally depleting materials as ingredients in concretes, contributing to the sustainable construction practices. The present study is an experimental investigation on strength behaviour of concrete prepared with 20 mm down sized processed recycled aggregate (PRA) replacing coarse aggregates partially and fully. The recycled aggregates (RA), obtained from processing of construction and demolition waste materials (C&D waste) are used as replacement to natural aggregates in concrete, with replacement levels RLs of 30%, 50%, and 100%. The sample of PRA is collected from a local C&D waste management plant. The properties of PRA are assessed as per the relevant codes of practice. The concrete mix is designed as per IS:10262 and design mix is frozen after extensive trials. The mixes satisfied the properties of wet concrete assessed using slump test (IS1199:1959). The properties of hardened concrete mixes with 100% PRA as coarse aggregates are assessed in terms of compressive strength, flexural strength, and split tensile strength, showed the variation of strength less than 5% in comparison with that of control concrete mixes recommending the replacement of PRA for natural coarse aggregates without compromise in the parameters considered for the study.