Strength and Durability Assessment of High Strength Concrete with Processed and Unprocessed Recycled Aggregates

In current era, construction activities are essential for modern civilization. Steel, concrete, wood, and glass are key materials for construction. Among all, concrete is further gaining rapid recognition due to its inherent properties. However, making of concrete involves use of natural resources, which is a growing concern over the depletion of natural resources in construction. Owing to that need of sustainable alternatives such as RCA are gaining attention very rapidly. Current study examines the strength and durability aspects of HSC using unprocessed and processed RCA. The mechanical properties of concrete were evaluated in a three-stage analysis, comparing mixes made with natural aggregates, unprocessed RCA, and processed RCA. The processing of RCA involved mechanical grinding, optimized through Abrasion, with replacement levels of 25% and 50%.The compressive strength results indicated that a 25% replacement of natural aggregates with processed RCA achieved the target strength, outperforming concrete with unprocessed RCA but remaining lower than natural aggregate mixes. Tests, including Rapid Chloride Penetration Test, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity, and Sorptivity, were conducted to assess the long-term performance. Processed RCA at 25% replacement exhibited improved durability, with lower chloride ion permeability, higher UPV values indicating better homogeneity, and reduced sorptivity, reflecting enhanced resistance to moisture ingress. These findings highlight that processed RCA offers a viable solution for sustainable concrete production, with strength and durability characteristics comparable to traditional materials at lower replacement levels.