Utilization of Recycled Concrete Materials in Concrete Production: Methodology, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation

The industry produces great volumes of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) that pose various environmental issues, such as resource depletion and accumulation of waste. This research focuses on the appropriateness of recycling Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) in the form of reuse of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA), Recycled Concrete Sand (RCS), and Recycled Concrete Powder (RCP) as green substitutes in concrete production The work provides a full process cycle of recycling CDW wastes ranging from material collection, processing and performance assessment in concrete mixtures. 12 concrete mixtures were prepared with varying percentages of the recycled materials and were evaluated for their workability and compressive and tensile strength. Results show that up to 50% of the replacement of conventional materials with recycled CDW does not significantly affect the strength of concrete and has environmental benefits. The study finds that Mixes containing RCP and RCS at this level have acceptable mechanical properties and enhance sustainability. However, full replacement with recycled materials resulted in lower strength, suggesting their potential for non-structural applications. This study emphasizes the need for improved recycling techniques and the opportunity to use recycled aggregates in concrete to support circular economy initiatives. The results provide a foundation for subsequent investigation on improving the utilization of CDW in construction and promoting sustainable construction.