Durability Characteristics of Concrete Containing Perlite and Recycled Aggregates

The construction industry is increasingly focused on sustainable concrete solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts of cement production, natural aggregate depletion, and construction and demolition waste generation. This study examines the combined use of ground expanded perlite (GEP) as a partial replacement for Portland cement, expanded perlite (EP) as a fine aggregate substitute, and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a replacement for natural coarse aggregate. Mechanical performance and durability characteristics, including compressive strength, carbonation resistance, chloride permeability, acid resistance, sorptivity, and ultrasonic pulse velocity, were experimentally evaluated. Results revealed that concrete incorporating 10% GEP, 20% EP, and 25% RCA exhibited superior strength and durability compared to other replacement levels and the control mix. Statistical modeling showed strong agreement with experimental results, identifying optimal factor levels of 9.25% GEP, 21.02% EP, and 25.02% RCA with an overall desirability of 0.844. The study confirms the effectiveness of developing eco-efficient, durable concrete while supporting circular economy principles.