comparative investigation of the effect of recycled fine

15
sustainability Article Comparative Investigation of the Eect of Recycled Fine Aggregate from New and Old Construction Wastes in C-25 Concrete in Ethiopia Lucy Feleke Nigussie 1, *, Muge Mukaddes Darwish 2 and Tewodros Ghebrab 2 1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma University Institute of Technology, Box 378 Jimma, Ethiopia 2 Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX Box 41023, USA; [email protected] (M.M.D.); [email protected] (T.G.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 11 November 2019; Accepted: 22 November 2019; Published: 12 December 2019 Abstract: Wherever there are construction activities, there is waste generation. In Ethiopia, the popular material for wall construction is a hollow concrete block that can be broken on the production site or the construction site during loading and unloading and is also found abundantly in demolished buildings. This research aimed at searching for alternative construction materials through recycling and examined the properties of recycled fine aggregate from demolished (old) and construction (new) hollow concrete block (HCB) wastes. The study examined the eect of the recycled HCB on fresh and hardened C-25 concrete properties and the possible replacement percentage of river sand by those recycled fine aggregates. The research also examined the comparative properties of the two recycled fine aggregates. The replacement percentage was in steps of 25%, starting from 25% up to 100%, and 0% represented the reference mix. In general, the recycled fine aggregate exhibited relatively lower physical properties than natural river sand but satisfied the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard requirements. The demolished recycled fine aggregate (DRFA) had slightly lower physical properties than the construction recycled fine aggregate (CRFA). The properties of fresh and hardened concrete were decreased as percentage replacement of DRFA and CRFA increased. The optimum percentage replacement of river sand by recycled fine aggregate was between 50% to 75% but was much closer to 75% for that of recycled from construction (new) and closer to 50% for that of recycled from demolished (old) HCB. Recycling wastes can reduce environmental impact due to sand mining and waste disposal as well as partially conserve the natural resource depletion. Keywords: concrete; construction wastes; compressive strength; demolition wastes; hollow concrete block; recycled fine aggregate 1. Introduction The construction industry’s quick growth has developed a high demand for resource materials. Concrete is one of the most common construction materials used worldwide and will likely remain so in the future, too [1]. Concrete is a composite material that consists of cement as a binding material, sand, and gravel. Sand and gravel are used extensively in the preparation of concrete for buildings and roads. This sand and gravel are mined world-wide and account for the largest volume of solid material extracted globally [2]. A researcher in Ethiopia tried to identify the eects of sand mining on marine biology and concluded that sand mining activities interfere with fish migration and aect the spawning populations early in their life stage by polluting the water, destroying the spawning grounds (especially the gravel beds), removing vegetation, and damaging the fishes [3]. It can aect marine Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116; doi:10.3390/su11247116 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Upload: others

Post on 04-Jan-2022

4 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

sustainability

Article

Comparative Investigation of the Effect of RecycledFine Aggregate from New and Old ConstructionWastes in C-25 Concrete in Ethiopia

Lucy Feleke Nigussie 1,*, Muge Mukaddes Darwish 2 and Tewodros Ghebrab 2

1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma University Institute of Technology, Box 378Jimma, Ethiopia

2 Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock,TX Box 41023, USA; [email protected] (M.M.D.); [email protected] (T.G.)

* Correspondence: [email protected]

Received: 11 November 2019; Accepted: 22 November 2019; Published: 12 December 2019 �����������������

Abstract: Wherever there are construction activities, there is waste generation. In Ethiopia, thepopular material for wall construction is a hollow concrete block that can be broken on the productionsite or the construction site during loading and unloading and is also found abundantly in demolishedbuildings. This research aimed at searching for alternative construction materials through recyclingand examined the properties of recycled fine aggregate from demolished (old) and construction (new)hollow concrete block (HCB) wastes. The study examined the effect of the recycled HCB on fresh andhardened C-25 concrete properties and the possible replacement percentage of river sand by thoserecycled fine aggregates. The research also examined the comparative properties of the two recycledfine aggregates. The replacement percentage was in steps of 25%, starting from 25% up to 100%, and0% represented the reference mix. In general, the recycled fine aggregate exhibited relatively lowerphysical properties than natural river sand but satisfied the American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM) standard requirements. The demolished recycled fine aggregate (DRFA) had slightly lowerphysical properties than the construction recycled fine aggregate (CRFA). The properties of fresh andhardened concrete were decreased as percentage replacement of DRFA and CRFA increased. Theoptimum percentage replacement of river sand by recycled fine aggregate was between 50% to 75%but was much closer to 75% for that of recycled from construction (new) and closer to 50% for that ofrecycled from demolished (old) HCB. Recycling wastes can reduce environmental impact due to sandmining and waste disposal as well as partially conserve the natural resource depletion.

Keywords: concrete; construction wastes; compressive strength; demolition wastes; hollow concreteblock; recycled fine aggregate

1. Introduction

The construction industry’s quick growth has developed a high demand for resource materials.Concrete is one of the most common construction materials used worldwide and will likely remain soin the future, too [1]. Concrete is a composite material that consists of cement as a binding material,sand, and gravel. Sand and gravel are used extensively in the preparation of concrete for buildingsand roads. This sand and gravel are mined world-wide and account for the largest volume of solidmaterial extracted globally [2]. A researcher in Ethiopia tried to identify the effects of sand mining onmarine biology and concluded that sand mining activities interfere with fish migration and affect thespawning populations early in their life stage by polluting the water, destroying the spawning grounds(especially the gravel beds), removing vegetation, and damaging the fishes [3]. It can affect marine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116; doi:10.3390/su11247116 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Page 2: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 2 of 15

life as well as lead to the depletion of natural resources due to the lack of sustainability/rejuvenationof materials.

The construction industry is one of the sectors that contributes waste to the environment inlarge quantities. The waste generated from the construction industry in developing countries isenormous due to poor management practices. Additionally, the rate of construction is high due to quickurbanization, industrialization, and economic development [4]. The major problem in the constructionindustry is the disposal of construction wastes. These waste materials are directly dumped into theenvironment as landfills, and this can cause environmental pollution. However, the environmentalimpact must be reduced by using waste for different purposes. To better preserve the environment forsustainable development, finding all possibilities and opportunities for reducing the waste products ofwork areas has to be a major focus [1,5].

For the construction of walls, the popular material used in Ethiopia is HCB [6]. Most constructionsites as well as HCB production sites have plenty of HCB wastes. HCB can be broken on production sitesor construction sites during loading and unloading, which of itself can create wastage. These wastes arefound collectively in a site with different sizes and different amounts and are disposed to the disposalsite as landfill. The recycling of concrete structures as concrete aggregate in Ethiopia was investigated,and promising results were found [4]. The physical properties of recycled concrete aggregate arewithin the range of normal weight aggregate. However, the properties of recycled concrete aggregateare lower than the properties of natural coarse aggregate. Recycling of wall materials, HCB wastes, iscrucial due to their abundancy in demolished as well as in construction/production site wastes.

This research focused on the recycling of wastes generated from HCB as an alternative constructionmaterial. This research consisted of preparation of recycled fine aggregate from HCB wastes (resizing,crushing, gradation, and purification), characterization of the recycled fine aggregate (silt content,sieve analysis, moisture content, specific gravity, water absorption), and investigation of the effect ofrecycled fine aggregate on properties of concrete at fresh and hardened states.

2. Literature Review

The recycling issue was started at the end of the second world war by recycling the demolishedbrick as aggregate by crushing [7]. Recycled concrete aggregate from demolished and constructionwastes was used as a subbase for past decades; recently, however, advanced investigation into theproperties of recycled concrete aggregate is occurring.

In recycling the demolished concrete waste, Yadhu et al. [8] reused the demolished concrete wasteas fine aggregate. From the study, the compressive strength of concrete with crushed demolished wasteas a replacement of fine aggregate had a lower value than the normal concrete. However, it could beused in construction members that do not carry much load. Thus, in general, they concluded that thecrushed demolished and construction waste can be used as a replacement of conventional sand as afine aggregate but needs further investigation into how extensively it can be used as a replacement.

Recycling was advanced by enhancing the quality of the recycled aggregate. Medhat et al. [5]investigated the properties of the recycled concrete aggregate of high quality that were producedthrough the technique of preserving the original properties of the aggregate. As per the comparisonmade on the effect of recycled concrete aggregate and commercial recycled concrete aggregate, thepreserved quality had better compressive strength, drying shrinkage, and salt scaling resistance. Thisinvestigation enhanced the recycled concrete aggregate quality by preserving the recycled concreteaggregate. Martinelli et al. [9] investigated the procedure of removing impurities of recycled concreteaggregate and examined their influence on physical and mechanical properties of concrete at fresh andhardened states. The researchers came with the feasibility of autogenous cleaning that could removethe surface impurities of recycled concrete aggregate as well as reduce particle heterogeneities. Toreduce heterogeneity, they removed the residual wood, plastics, and steels from demolished debris,and to reduce the amount of fine particles attached on the surface of recycled concrete, autogenouscleaning was performed. The cleaning procedure enhanced the recycled aggregate quality, and this

Page 3: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 3 of 15

improved the properties of the concrete with recycled aggregate at fresh and hardened states. The fineparticles attached on the surface of the recycled concrete aggregate increased the water absorptioncapacity of recycled fine aggregate and also had a lower density than natural aggregate [4,5,9]. Thus,the compressive strength was less than the conventional concrete due to the high water absorptioncapacity of the recycled fine aggregate. Park et al. [10] evaluated the surface modification of recycledfine aggregate to reduce the water absorption rate and increase density by aqueous H2SiF6 solution.The modified recycled aggregate showed more improvement than the recycled aggregate beforemodification in mechanical properties of both compressive and flexural strength. Thus, they concludedthat the surface treatment method using the H2SiF6 solution is effective in improving high waterabsorption capacity and low density of recycled fine aggregate. The recycling of demolished andconstruction waste is prompted from time to time worldwide with enhanced treatment procedures,but not in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in which the concept of recycling construction anddemolition waste has not yet been implemented [4]. In Ethiopia, the solid waste managementproclamation No. 513/2007 enforces the disposal of construction and demolition wastes to use aslandfill. This indicates that Ethiopia is behind on the recycling of construction and demolition wastes.However, for the last seven years, some research [4,11] was undertaken on the recycling of constructionand demolition wastes. Woubishet [4] assessed the suitability of recycled aggregate in concrete and theeffect of recycled concrete aggregate on concrete properties. The crushed concrete as coarse aggregate inconcrete was checked for workability, compressive strength, and permeability properties as comparedto the control mix. The researcher concluded that the physical properties of recycled concrete aggregatehad fewer physical properties than the original aggregate but was within the required standard limit.Lucy et al. [11] investigated the recycling of demolished hollow concrete blocks as fine aggregate inconcrete. The physical properties of recycled fine aggregate and the effect of replacement of naturalsand by recycled fine aggregate on fresh and hardened properties of concrete were investigated throughlocal technology and methods. The replacement of natural sand by recycled fine aggregate of up to50% was attained at the standard limit but was slightly lower than the conventional concrete.

Recycling demolished and construction waste in Ethiopia is far behind compared to theachievement in other parts of the world. This study is significant in that the recycling issue isdirectly related to sustainability. This study aimed to recycle the construction wastes to fine aggregateby enhancing the quality of the recycled fine aggregate and to compare the effect of fine aggregaterecycled from demolished waste (old) and construction waste (new) on concrete properties. In recycling,homogenization of demolished and construction wastes, cleaning, and washing were the proceduresto enhance the quality of the recycled fine aggregate.

3. Experimental Program

In this section, the materials used for experimental purposes are elaborated. The properties ofall materials used were checked per standards. Further treatment occurred after crushing to enhancethe quality of recycled fine aggregate from construction and demolition wastes. Some tests wereconducted to determine the properties of recycled fine aggregate. In this study, 81 experimentalsamples were prepared for nine different tests of fresh and hardened concrete properties. The datawere collected from Jimma, Ethiopia, and experimental studies were undertaken in Jimma University’sconstruction laboratory. All experiments were conducted and compared to the American Societyfor Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Concrete Institute (ACI), and Ethiopian Standard (ES)standards according to the local technical specification [12]. Some standards used in Ethiopia wereamended according to local methodology and technology.

Page 4: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 4 of 15

3.1. Materials

3.1.1. Cement

As a binding material, Dangote Ordinary Portland cement with a strength class of 42.5 N wasused. The cement obtained from a single batch was used throughout the test with compliance to ASTMstandard specifications. The cement specific gravity, fineness, and normal consistency were conductedas per the ASTM standard.

3.1.2. Water

Potable tap water was used for concrete mixing and curing. For the coarse aggregate, locallyavailable crushed stone aggregate with a nominal size of 20 mm was used. The specific gravity, waterabsorption, and fineness modulus properties of coarse aggregates were checked as per the ASTMstandard [11]. The coarse aggregate used in this experiment is well graded.

3.1.3. Sand

There were two types of sand used for this research work, locally available river sand and recycledfine aggregate. The local river sand used was checked for silt content, gradation, absorption capacity,moisture content, unit weight, and bulk specific gravity as per ASTM standards [11].

The recycled fine aggregate from the construction waste of HCB was collected from HCBproduction sites found in the city of Jimma, which is called Degene Tsedale Hebret and Lemlem(DTHL), as shown in Figure 1, to avoid contamination in construction sites such as mortar, gypsum,and painting. The HCB used for this experimental purpose had an age of two months and was stockedto be used in construction. The HCB was processed to get recycled fine aggregate as per the followingsteps and as per the technique shown in Figure 2.

1. Selection: non-load bearing HCB, which was manufactured according to the specification ofASTM C 129–70 [13], and those that had the same aging were selected. According to ES 596–2001,a non-load bearing HCB used for partition was recycled;

2. Re-sizing/crushing: re-sizing included breaking the HCB by rock hammer to the appropriatesize for the crushing machine. Then, the crushing machine was crushed to a different size, whichhad both fine and coarse aggregate sizes;

3. Grading: identifying different sizes of recycled aggregate to recycled fine and coarse aggregatethrough sieving. The recycled aggregates that passed through 4.75 mm sieve size were consideredas fine aggregate, and fine particles that passed through sieve size No.100 (150 µm) were avoided;

4. Washing and floatation: the crushed recycled fine aggregate had the fine particle from mortarand some lightweight floating materials. Washing the recycled fine aggregate reduced the siltcontent and increased the quality of the materials.

The physical properties of recycled fine aggregate, silt content, sieve analysis, unit weight, moisturecontent, specific gravity, and water absorption were tested as per the ASTM standard, and the resultsare summarized in Table 1. For river sand, the silt content was within the required limit at less than6% [11], but the silt content of recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB was washed to attain thelimit. The cement powder from HCB and fracture dust during crushing was the cause for high fineparticles that passed through the 150 µm sieve size. The silt content of the recycled fine aggregate froma demolished HCB was higher than the recycled fine aggregate from production site HCB wastes. FromTables 1 and 2, the fine particles that passed through the 150 µm sieve size were 1.5% for demolitionrecycled fine aggregate (DRFA) and 1% for construction recycled fine aggregate (CRFA). The siltcontent test was done by washing the finer particle less than 75 µm as per ASTM C 117–90 [14]. FromTable 1, the silt contents of DRFA and CRFA were 4.2% and 3.9%, respectively. The DRFA had morefine particles than the CRFA due to fine particles from plastering, gypsum, and mortar between the

Page 5: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 5 of 15

HCBs as a joint. In CRFA, the fine particles were from the cement in HCB and were due to fracturefrom crushing.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 15

As a binding material, Dangote Ordinary Portland cement with a strength class of 42.5 N was 144 used. The cement obtained from a single batch was used throughout the test with compliance to 145 ASTM standard specifications. The cement specific gravity, fineness, and normal consistency were 146 conducted as per the ASTM standard. 147

3.1.2. Water 148 Potable tap water was used for concrete mixing and curing. For the coarse aggregate, locally 149

available crushed stone aggregate with a nominal size of 20 mm was used. The specific gravity, water 150 absorption, and fineness modulus properties of coarse aggregates were checked as per the ASTM 151 standard [11]. The coarse aggregate used in this experiment is well graded. 152

3.1.3. Sand 153 There were two types of sand used for this research work, locally available river sand and 154

recycled fine aggregate. The local river sand used was checked for silt content, gradation, absorption 155 capacity, moisture content, unit weight, and bulk specific gravity as per ASTM standards [11]. 156

The recycled fine aggregate from the construction waste of HCB was collected from HCB 157 production sites found in the city of Jimma, which is called Degene Tsedale Hebret and Lemlem 158 (DTHL), as shown in Figure 1, to avoid contamination in construction sites such as mortar, gypsum, 159 and painting. The HCB used for this experimental purpose had an age of two months and was 160 stocked to be used in construction. The HCB was processed to get recycled fine aggregate as per the 161 following steps and as per the technique shown in Figure 2. 162 1. Selection: non-load bearing HCB, which was manufactured according to the specification of 163

ASTM C 129–70 [13], and those that had the same aging were selected. According to ES 596–164 2001, a non-load bearing HCB used for partition was recycled; 165

2. Re-sizing/crushing: re-sizing included breaking the HCB by rock hammer to the appropriate 166 size for the crushing machine. Then, the crushing machine was crushed to a different size, which 167 had both fine and coarse aggregate sizes; 168

3. Grading: identifying different sizes of recycled aggregate to recycled fine and coarse aggregate 169 through sieving. The recycled aggregates that passed through 4.75 mm sieve size were 170 considered as fine aggregate, and fine particles that passed through sieve size No.100 (150 µm) 171 were avoided; 172

4. Washing and floatation: the crushed recycled fine aggregate had the fine particle from mortar 173 and some lightweight floating materials. Washing the recycled fine aggregate reduced the silt 174 content and increased the quality of the materials. 175

176 Figure 1. Site of the sample collection. 177 Figure 1. Site of the sample collection.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 15

178

179

Figure 2. Different phases of preparing recycled fine aggregate. 180

The physical properties of recycled fine aggregate, silt content, sieve analysis, unit weight, 181 moisture content, specific gravity, and water absorption were tested as per the ASTM standard, and 182 the results are summarized in Table 1. For river sand, the silt content was within the required limit 183 at less than 6% [11], but the silt content of recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB was washed 184 to attain the limit. The cement powder from HCB and fracture dust during crushing was the cause 185 for high fine particles that passed through the 150 µm sieve size. The silt content of the recycled fine 186 aggregate from a demolished HCB was higher than the recycled fine aggregate from production site 187 HCB wastes. From Tables 1 and 2, the fine particles that passed through the 150 µm sieve size were 188 1.5% for demolition recycled fine aggregate (DRFA) and 1% for construction recycled fine aggregate 189 (CRFA). The silt content test was done by washing the finer particle less than 75 µm as per ASTM C 190 117–90 [14]. From Table 1, the silt contents of DRFA and CRFA were 4.2% and 3.9%, respectively. The 191 DRFA had more fine particles than the CRFA due to fine particles from plastering, gypsum, and 192 mortar between the HCBs as a joint. In CRFA, the fine particles were from the cement in HCB and 193 were due to fracture from crushing. 194

The unit weight of the CRFA was less than that of the river sand and was the same as previous 195 research findings [4,11]. Less unit weight was due to the porous cement mortar materials attached on 196 the surface of the CRFA and the finer particles from old cement. The unit weights of DRFA and CRFA 197 were nearly the same and were also within an acceptable range of ASTM standards, and the test was 198 done as per ASTM Designation C-29 procedure [15]. 199

The water absorption capacities of CRFA and DRFA were checked since water absorption 200 capacity is a vital criterion for mix design. As per ASTM requirements, the water absorption 201 capacities of recycled fine aggregate from both sources were higher due to fine particles and due to 202 adhered mortar. The water absorption capacity of the DRFA (6.84%) was higher than those of CRFA 203 (5.1%) and river sand (1.73%) [11]. 204

Table 1. Sieve analysis of recycled fine aggregate from demolished hollow concrete block (HCB) 205 waste. 206

ASTM Sieve Designation and Sieve Size (mm)

Weight Retained (gm.) Average Weight

Retained (g)

Cumulative Retained

(%)

Percentage Passing (%)

Specification % Passing (ASTM

C128) Sample

1 Sample

2 Sample

3

Figure 2. Different phases of preparing recycled fine aggregate.

The unit weight of the CRFA was less than that of the river sand and was the same as previousresearch findings [4,11]. Less unit weight was due to the porous cement mortar materials attached onthe surface of the CRFA and the finer particles from old cement. The unit weights of DRFA and CRFAwere nearly the same and were also within an acceptable range of ASTM standards, and the test wasdone as per ASTM Designation C-29 procedure [15].

The water absorption capacities of CRFA and DRFA were checked since water absorption capacityis a vital criterion for mix design. As per ASTM requirements, the water absorption capacities ofrecycled fine aggregate from both sources were higher due to fine particles and due to adhered mortar.

Page 6: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 6 of 15

The water absorption capacity of the DRFA (6.84%) was higher than those of CRFA (5.1%) and riversand (1.73%) [11].

Table 1. Sieve analysis of recycled fine aggregate from demolished hollow concrete block (HCB) waste.

ASTM SieveDesignation and Sieve

Size (mm)

Weight Retained (gm.) Average WeightRetained (g)

CumulativeRetained (%)

PercentagePassing (%)

Specification %Passing (ASTM

C128)Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

3/8 (9.50 mm) 0 0 0 0 0 100 100No.4 (4.75 mm) 2.5 2 1 1.8 0.1 99.9 95–100No.8 (2.36 mm) 109 197 236 180.7 9.1 90.9 80–100

No.16 (1.18 mm) 397 412 504 437.7 31 69.0 50–85No.30 (600 µm) 801 744 695 746.7 68.3 31.7 25–60No.50 (300 µm) 442 427 372 413.7 89 11.0 5–30No.100 (150 µm) 213 186 167 188.7 98.5 1.5 0–10

Pan 35 29.5 26.5 30.3 100 0.0 N/ASUM 2000 2000 2000 290

Table 2. Sieve analysis of recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB waste.

ASTM SieveDesignation and Sieve

Size (mm)

Weight Retained (gm.) Average WeightRetained (G)

CumulativeRetained (%)

PercentagePassing (%)

Specification %Passing (ASTM

C33)Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

3/8 (9.50 mm) 0 0 0 0 0 100 100

No.4 (4.75 mm) 2.5 2.5 3 2.7 0.1 99.9 95–100

No.8 (2.36 mm) 163 133 115 137 7 93 80–100

No.16 (1.18 mm) 300 408 401 369.7 25.5 74.5 50–85

No.30 (600 µm) 798 756 745 766.3 63.8 36.2 25–60

No.50 (300µm) 497 465 490 484 88 12 5-30

No.100 (150µm) 221 215 225 220.3 99 1 0-10

Pan 14 20 18 18.3 100 0 N/A

SUM 2000 2000 2000 283.4

From Figure 3, the particle size distribution curve of river sand and both types of RFA was betweenthe upper and the lower limit, which satisfied the ASTM standard requirement. The fineness modulusof the sand varied from fine sand 2.2–2.6, medium sand from 2.6–2.9, and coarser sand from 2.9–3.2.The fineness modulus of both types of RFA was in the range of 2.6–2.9. Therefore, both DRFA andCRFA were medium sand types.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 6 of 15

3/8 (9.50 mm) 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 No.4 (4.75 mm) 2.5 2 1 1.8 0.1 99.9 95–100 No.8 (2.36 mm) 109 197 236 180.7 9.1 90.9 80–100 No.16 (1.18 mm) 397 412 504 437.7 31 69.0 50–85 No.30 (600 µm) 801 744 695 746.7 68.3 31.7 25–60 No.50 (300 µm) 442 427 372 413.7 89 11.0 5–30 No.100 (150 µm) 213 186 167 188.7 98.5 1.5 0–10

Pan 35 29.5 26.5 30.3 100 0.0 N/A SUM 2000 2000 2000 290

Table 2. Sieve analysis of recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB waste. 207

ASTM Sieve Designation and Sieve Size (mm)

Weight Retained (gm.) Average Weight

Retained (G)

Cumulative Retained (%)

Percentage Passing (%)

Specification % Passing (ASTM

C33) Sample

1 Sample

2 Sample

3

3/8 (9.50 mm) 0 0 0 0 0 100 100 No.4 (4.75 mm) 2.5 2.5 3 2.7 0.1 99.9 95–100 No.8 (2.36 mm) 163 133 115 137 7 93 80–100 No.16 (1.18 mm) 300 408 401 369.7 25.5 74.5 50–85 No.30 (600 µm) 798 756 745 766.3 63.8 36.2 25–60 No.50 (300µm) 497 465 490 484 88 12 5-30

No.100 (150µm) 221 215 225 220.3 99 1 0-10 Pan 14 20 18 18.3 100 0 N/A

SUM 2000 2000 2000 283.4

From Figure 3, the particle size distribution curve of river sand and both types of RFA was 208 between the upper and the lower limit, which satisfied the ASTM standard requirement. The fineness 209 modulus of the sand varied from fine sand 2.2–2.6, medium sand from 2.6–2.9, and coarser sand from 210 2.9–3.2. The fineness modulus of both types of RFA was in the range of 2.6–2.9. Therefore, both DRFA 211 and CRFA were medium sand types. 212

213

Figure 3. Gradation curve of recycled fine aggregate and river sand. 214

3.2. Tests 215 For the results obtained from crushed and processed demolished and construction HCB wastes, 216

three different mixtures were designed to analyze the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. The 217 concrete mix type with only natural sand was used as a control mix or reference mix with “Co” 218 designation. “DRFA“ was a mixture type with recycled fine aggregate from demolished HCB wastes, 219 and “CRFA” was a mixture type with recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB wastes with a 220

0

20

40

60

80

100

0.010.11

Cum

mul

ativ

e pa

ssin

g (%

)

Seve size

CRFA DRFA River sand

Figure 3. Gradation curve of recycled fine aggregate and river sand.

Page 7: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 7 of 15

3.2. Tests

For the results obtained from crushed and processed demolished and construction HCB wastes,three different mixtures were designed to analyze the properties of fresh and hardened concrete.The concrete mix type with only natural sand was used as a control mix or reference mix with “Co”designation. “DRFA“ was a mixture type with recycled fine aggregate from demolished HCB wastes,and “CRFA” was a mixture type with recycled fine aggregate from construction HCB wastes witha different replacement percentage. For both mixtures with recycled fine aggregate, replacementpercentages of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% were designed. All the concrete mixes were preparedaccording to the weight-based batching system as per ACI 211.1.91 [16]. All ingredients were the samefor all mixes except the water/cement (w/c) ratio and the fine aggregate proportions. The reference mixsamples were produced with 370 kg/m3 and 0.55 w/c ratios. For concrete with recycled fine aggregate,additional water was poured during the mixing to compensate for the water absorption capacityaccording to the test results of water absorption capacity of CRFA and DRFA in Table 3.

Table 3. Summary of properties of CRFA and DRFA.

Table Type. Test Result Standard AppliedCRFA DRFA [11]

Silt content (%) 3.9 4.2 ASTM C-117 [14]Fineness modulus 2.83 2.9 ASTM C-136 [17]

Unit weight (Kg/m3) 1202 1229.1 ASTM C-29 [15]Moisture content (%) 0.6 0.5 ASTM C-566 [18]

Bulk specific gravity (SSD) 2.36 2.35 ASTM C-128 [19]Bulk Specific gravity dry basis 2.24 2.2 ASTM C-128 [19]

Apparent Specific gravity 2.53 2.59 ASTM C-128 [19]Absorption capacity (%) 5.10 6.84 ASTM C-128 [19]

CRFA-Construction recycled fine aggregate, DRFA-Demolition recycled fine aggregate, ASTM-American Society forTesting and Materials.

A slump test is the most common technique for evaluating the workability. The freshly mixedconcrete was placed in a mold shape as frustum and compacted by rodding. The cone with a 10 cm topdiameter, a 20 cm bottom diameter, and a 30 cm height was filled with freshly prepared concrete inthree stages. Each layer was tamped 25 times using a rod of standard dimensions (16 mm) [20]. Thesettlement of concrete was measured from the molded truncated cone.

The mix design in Table 4, was done to achieve a compressive strength of 25 MPa with differentpercentages of replacement of CRFA for non-air entrained normal strength concrete. C-25 concrete iscommonly used in Ethiopia in structural members such as beams, columns, and slabs [21]. For thecompressive strength test, the concrete specimens were cast in a 150 mm ∗ 150 mm ∗ 150 mm cubesteel mold, and the experiments were performed at the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days of thecuring period. The specimens were demolded after 24 h of casting and placed in a water bath atroom temperature (23 ◦C) until tested. The tests were undertaken in Jimma University’s constructionlaboratory in December 2018. During the testing of compressive strength, a calibrated compressionmachine with a uniform rate of 5 N/mm2 per second loading was maintained, and the maximumload to failure at which the specimen broke were noted. The compressive machine provided thecompressive strength directly, or it could be found by dividing peak load by area of the sample.

Page 8: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 8 of 15

Table 4. The mix composition of concrete cubes.

Mixes Cement(kg/m3) Water/Cement Water

(kg/m3) RS (kg/m3)CRFA

(kg/m3) CA (kg/m3)

C0 370 0.55 203.57 792.70 0.00 1001.26C25% 370 0.57 209.54 594.53 198.18 1001.26C50% 370 0.58 215.50 396.35 396.35 1001.26C75% 370 0.60 221.48 198.18 594.53 1001.26

C100% 370 0.61 227.45 0.00 792.70 1001.26

4. Results and Discussions

This section reports the summary of the experimental test results with the discussion of concretewith recycled fine aggregate as compared to the reference mix as well as the comparison of the concreteproperties at fresh and hardened states of concrete with recycled aggregate from demolished andconstruction wastes.

4.1. Fresh Concrete Properties

Workability test: The consistency of the concrete mixes at a fresh stage was determined in thelaboratory by the slump test as per ASTM C 143 [20]. In the concrete mix design, a maximum aggregatesize of 20 mm, a slump range between 25 and 50 mm, and 185 kg of water were used in accordancewith ACI standard procedure [19]. The slump value for adjusted w/c ratio of normal concrete was30 mm. To maintain uniform workability of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate, the w/c wasincreased. The slump value for the concrete with recycled fine aggregate with a constant w/c ratio (0.55)was less than 15 mm. As per ASTM C143 [20], concrete that had a slump value of less than 15 mm maynot be adequately plastic, and concrete with a slump value higher than 230 mm may not be sufficientlycohesive. The workability of the concrete mix is mostly affected by consistency. The wetter the mix is,the more workable the concrete is. A concrete mix with the same consistency may vary in workability.The mix was dry due to the water absorption capacity of the CRFA. Adjusting for moisture and thewater absorption capacity of the CRFA enabled us to attain uniform workability of concrete. Thus, thewater required for the mix increased as the percentage of replacement of CRFA increased.

Water/cement ratio: The water/cement ratio varied for each percentage replacement of the CRFAdue to the absorption capacity of the CRFA as shown in Figure 4. The amount of water requiredincreased as the percentage of replacement of recycled fine aggregate increased. To maintain theworkability of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate, the water/cement ratio ranged from 0.55for the reference mix to 0.61 for the mix with 100% CRFA. The reason for the increment of w/c wasdue to the high absorption capacity of CRFA, which was 5.1%. From Figure 1, the water absorptioncapacity of DRFA (6.84%) [11] was slightly higher than that of CRFA (5.1%). The previous studies alsoagreed on the high water absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregate due to the dust and thehardened porous cement mortar adhered to it [4,11,22]. DRFA could have had remaining gypsum,plastering, painting, and ceramics wastes after separation and purification processes were undertakensince the materials were from a demolished student dormitory. The water absorption capacity ofrecycled fine aggregates was higher than the normal aggregates, and the researcher [23] found thatrecycled aggregate can have 8–10% water absorption capacity.

Page 9: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 9 of 15

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 8 of 15

This section reports the summary of the experimental test results with the discussion of concrete 250 with recycled fine aggregate as compared to the reference mix as well as the comparison of the 251 concrete properties at fresh and hardened states of concrete with recycled aggregate from demolished 252 and construction wastes. 253

4.1. Fresh Concrete Properties 254 Workability test: The consistency of the concrete mixes at a fresh stage was determined in the 255

laboratory by the slump test as per ASTM C 143 [20]. In the concrete mix design, a maximum 256 aggregate size of 20 mm, a slump range between 25 and 50 mm, and 185 kg of water were used in 257 accordance with ACI standard procedure [19]. The slump value for adjusted w/c ratio of normal 258 concrete was 30 mm. To maintain uniform workability of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate, 259 the w/c was increased. The slump value for the concrete with recycled fine aggregate with a constant 260 w/c ratio (0.55) was less than 15 mm. As per ASTM C143 [20], concrete that had a slump value of less 261 than 15 mm may not be adequately plastic, and concrete with a slump value higher than 230 mm may 262 not be sufficiently cohesive. The workability of the concrete mix is mostly affected by consistency. 263 The wetter the mix is, the more workable the concrete is. A concrete mix with the same consistency 264 may vary in workability. The mix was dry due to the water absorption capacity of the CRFA. 265 Adjusting for moisture and the water absorption capacity of the CRFA enabled us to attain uniform 266 workability of concrete. Thus, the water required for the mix increased as the percentage of 267 replacement of CRFA increased. 268

Water/cement ratio: The water/cement ratio varied for each percentage replacement of the CRFA 269 due to the absorption capacity of the CRFA as shown in Figure 4. The amount of water required 270 increased as the percentage of replacement of recycled fine aggregate increased. To maintain the 271 workability of concrete containing recycled fine aggregate, the water/cement ratio ranged from 0.55 272 for the reference mix to 0.61 for the mix with 100% CRFA. The reason for the increment of w/c was 273 due to the high absorption capacity of CRFA, which was 5.1%. From Figure 1, the water absorption 274 capacity of DRFA (6.84%) [11] was slightly higher than that of CRFA (5.1%). The previous studies 275 also agreed on the high water absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregate due to the dust and 276 the hardened porous cement mortar adhered to it [4,11,22]. DRFA could have had remaining gypsum, 277 plastering, painting, and ceramics wastes after separation and purification processes were 278 undertaken since the materials were from a demolished student dormitory. The water absorption 279 capacity of recycled fine aggregates was higher than the normal aggregates, and the researcher [23] 280 found that recycled aggregate can have 8–10% water absorption capacity. 281

282 Figure 4. Comparison of water/cement ratio of CRFA and DRFA. 283

4.2. Properties of Hardened Concrete 284

0.50.550.6

0.650.7

0 25 50 75 100

w/c

Percent of replacement (%)

Targeted slump value=30mm

CRFA DRFA

Figure 4. Comparison of water/cement ratio of CRFA and DRFA.

4.2. Properties of Hardened Concrete

4.2.1. Unit Weight of Hardened Concrete

The unit weight of hardened concrete was measured before the compressive strength test. The unitweight of hardened concrete with recycled fine aggregate with different percentages was compared tothe control/reference specimen in Figure 5. There was a decrement of unit weight of hardened concreteas a percentage of replacement of recycled fine aggregate increased [4,23]. This decrement was due tofine particles from mortar and old mortar attached to it. From the material unit weight test, it waschecked that the unit weight of the CRFA (1202 kg/m3) was less dense than the natural river sand (1605kg/m3). The unit weight of CRFA was also very closer to that of DRFA (1229.1 kg/m3). Therefore, theunit weight of the hardened concrete from CRFA and DRFA nearly had a closer density but was lesserthan the reference mix density of hardened concrete.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 15

4.2.1. Unit Weight of Hardened Concrete 285 The unit weight of hardened concrete was measured before the compressive strength test. The 286

unit weight of hardened concrete with recycled fine aggregate with different percentages was 287 compared to the control/reference specimen in Figure 5. There was a decrement of unit weight of 288 hardened concrete as a percentage of replacement of recycled fine aggregate increased [4,23]. This 289 decrement was due to fine particles from mortar and old mortar attached to it. From the material unit 290 weight test, it was checked that the unit weight of the CRFA (1202 kg/m3) was less dense than the 291 natural river sand (1605 kg/m3). The unit weight of CRFA was also very closer to that of DRFA (1229.1 292 kg/m3). Therefore, the unit weight of the hardened concrete from CRFA and DRFA nearly had a closer 293 density but was lesser than the reference mix density of hardened concrete. 294

295 Figure 5. Unit weight of hardened concrete. 296

4.2.2. Compressive Strength 297 The compressive strength test was performed using 150 ∗ 150 ∗ 150 mm cubes in which the 298

specimens were cast. In a compressive strength test, to be accurate and consistent, replication of the 299 consecutive results was applied by taking three samples for each percentage and each curing period. 300 Figure 6 provides the results of the compressive strength test of reference mixes and mixes with 301 recycled fine aggregate. The compressive strength result of the reference mix sample for the seventh, 302 the 14th, and the 28th days of the hydration period increased from day to day due to the ongoing 303 hydration process. As can be observed from Figure 4, the compressive strength of concrete samples 304 with CRFA had a lower compressive strength value than the control mix. For the 28th day 305 compressive strength, the sample with CRFA was reduced by 9.43% from the reference mix for 25% 306 replacement and by 16.1% for the 50% replacement. Thus, the compressive strength decreased as the 307 percentage of the replacement of the CRFA increased. Additional water was added to the mix due to 308 water required for the compensation of the high water absorption capacity of CRFA. This extra water 309 added to the mix increased the w/c ratio. From a previous study [9], the compressive strength of 310 concrete with recycled aggregate concrete was reduced by 20% compared to the reference mix, and 311 they concluded that this was due to the high amount of absorption compensation water that increased 312 the w/c ratio. 313

2350.002375.002400.002425.002450.002475.002500.002525.002550.00

0 25 50 75 100

Uni

t wei

ght (

kg/m

3)

Percentage of replacement (%)

7th 14th 28th

Figure 5. Unit weight of hardened concrete.

4.2.2. Compressive Strength

The compressive strength test was performed using 150 ∗ 150 ∗ 150 mm cubes in which thespecimens were cast. In a compressive strength test, to be accurate and consistent, replication of

Page 10: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 10 of 15

the consecutive results was applied by taking three samples for each percentage and each curingperiod. Figure 6 provides the results of the compressive strength test of reference mixes and mixes withrecycled fine aggregate. The compressive strength result of the reference mix sample for the seventh,the 14th, and the 28th days of the hydration period increased from day to day due to the ongoinghydration process. As can be observed from Figure 4, the compressive strength of concrete sampleswith CRFA had a lower compressive strength value than the control mix. For the 28th day compressivestrength, the sample with CRFA was reduced by 9.43% from the reference mix for 25% replacementand by 16.1% for the 50% replacement. Thus, the compressive strength decreased as the percentage ofthe replacement of the CRFA increased. Additional water was added to the mix due to water requiredfor the compensation of the high water absorption capacity of CRFA. This extra water added to the mixincreased the w/c ratio. From a previous study [9], the compressive strength of concrete with recycledaggregate concrete was reduced by 20% compared to the reference mix, and they concluded that thiswas due to the high amount of absorption compensation water that increased the w/c ratio.Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 15

314 Figure 6. Variation of the compressive strength with hydration period. 315

The compressive strength of concrete with 25% and 50% CRFA replacement attained the 316 targeted mean strength of C-25 concrete, but for concrete with 75% CRFA, it failed to attain the 317 targeted strength. The optimum percentage of replacement of CRFA fell between 50% and 75% but 318 was closer to 75%. Thus, we need to investigate in small interval replacement percentages from 50% 319 to 75% to find the exact optimum replacement percent. From previous research, the optimum 320 percentage of replacement of crushed waste sandcrete blocks [24] was 50%. The same phenomena 321 existed for a similar investigation on demolished HCB replacement as fine aggregate, and the 322 optimum replacement percentage was 50% [11]. Figure 6 shows the relationship between the 323 compressive strength and the rate of replacement of recycled fine aggregate on the seventh, the 14th, 324 and the 28th days of curing. 325

In this experiment of different mixes for different percentages of recycled fine aggregate 326 replacement for the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days, the consistency among the value was checked 327 and is shown in Figure 7. The coefficient of determination (R2-value) ranged from 0.9725 to 0.986. The 328 results were closer to one, which implied that the concrete properties had a high degree of accuracy 329 and consistency throughout the tests. 330

331 Figure 7. Relationship of the compressive strength with CRFA replacement. 332

Figures 8–10 show the error bar for the compressive strength of the seventh day, the 14th, and 333 the 28th day. This shows how much the measurements of the samples were spread out from the 334 average result. For different samples of concrete mix, the error bar shows how much the data varied 335 and how much they scattered. 336

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

7th 14th 28th

Com

ress

ve st

reng

th (M

Pa)

Hydration periods (days)0 25 50 75 100

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

0 25 50 75 100

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

Figure 6. Variation of the compressive strength with hydration period.

The compressive strength of concrete with 25% and 50% CRFA replacement attained the targetedmean strength of C-25 concrete, but for concrete with 75% CRFA, it failed to attain the targetedstrength. The optimum percentage of replacement of CRFA fell between 50% and 75% but was closerto 75%. Thus, we need to investigate in small interval replacement percentages from 50% to 75% tofind the exact optimum replacement percent. From previous research, the optimum percentage ofreplacement of crushed waste sandcrete blocks [24] was 50%. The same phenomena existed for asimilar investigation on demolished HCB replacement as fine aggregate, and the optimum replacementpercentage was 50% [11]. Figure 6 shows the relationship between the compressive strength and therate of replacement of recycled fine aggregate on the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days of curing.

In this experiment of different mixes for different percentages of recycled fine aggregate replacementfor the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days, the consistency among the value was checked and is shownin Figure 7. The coefficient of determination (R2-value) ranged from 0.9725 to 0.986. The results werecloser to one, which implied that the concrete properties had a high degree of accuracy and consistencythroughout the tests.

Figures 8–10 show the error bar for the compressive strength of the seventh day, the 14th, and the28th day. This shows how much the measurements of the samples were spread out from the averageresult. For different samples of concrete mix, the error bar shows how much the data varied and howmuch they scattered.

Page 11: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 11 of 15

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 15

314 Figure 6. Variation of the compressive strength with hydration period. 315

The compressive strength of concrete with 25% and 50% CRFA replacement attained the 316 targeted mean strength of C-25 concrete, but for concrete with 75% CRFA, it failed to attain the 317 targeted strength. The optimum percentage of replacement of CRFA fell between 50% and 75% but 318 was closer to 75%. Thus, we need to investigate in small interval replacement percentages from 50% 319 to 75% to find the exact optimum replacement percent. From previous research, the optimum 320 percentage of replacement of crushed waste sandcrete blocks [24] was 50%. The same phenomena 321 existed for a similar investigation on demolished HCB replacement as fine aggregate, and the 322 optimum replacement percentage was 50% [11]. Figure 6 shows the relationship between the 323 compressive strength and the rate of replacement of recycled fine aggregate on the seventh, the 14th, 324 and the 28th days of curing. 325

In this experiment of different mixes for different percentages of recycled fine aggregate 326 replacement for the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days, the consistency among the value was checked 327 and is shown in Figure 7. The coefficient of determination (R2-value) ranged from 0.9725 to 0.986. The 328 results were closer to one, which implied that the concrete properties had a high degree of accuracy 329 and consistency throughout the tests. 330

331 Figure 7. Relationship of the compressive strength with CRFA replacement. 332

Figures 8–10 show the error bar for the compressive strength of the seventh day, the 14th, and 333 the 28th day. This shows how much the measurements of the samples were spread out from the 334 average result. For different samples of concrete mix, the error bar shows how much the data varied 335 and how much they scattered. 336

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

7th 14th 28th

Com

ress

ve st

reng

th (M

Pa)

Hydration periods (days)0 25 50 75 100

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

0 25 50 75 100

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

Figure 7. Relationship of the compressive strength with CRFA replacement.Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 15

337 Figure 8. Error bar for the seventh day compressive strength. 338

339 Figure 9. Error bar for the 14th day compressive strength. 340

341 Figure 10. Error bar for the 28th day compressive strength. 342

4.3. Comparison of CRFA and DRFA 343 The CRFA, as compared to the DRFA [11], had slightly higher physical properties. Both were 344

tested after floatation and washing as well as handpicking for demolished wastes. The silt content of 345 DRFA (4.2%) was higher than that of CRFA (3.9%) due to many sources of fine particles in DRFA. 346

1517192123252729

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

7th

15202530354045

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacemnt (%)

14th

152025303540

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

28th

Figure 8. Error bar for the seventh day compressive strength.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 15

337 Figure 8. Error bar for the seventh day compressive strength. 338

339 Figure 9. Error bar for the 14th day compressive strength. 340

341 Figure 10. Error bar for the 28th day compressive strength. 342

4.3. Comparison of CRFA and DRFA 343 The CRFA, as compared to the DRFA [11], had slightly higher physical properties. Both were 344

tested after floatation and washing as well as handpicking for demolished wastes. The silt content of 345 DRFA (4.2%) was higher than that of CRFA (3.9%) due to many sources of fine particles in DRFA. 346

1517192123252729

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

7th

15202530354045

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacemnt (%)

14th

152025303540

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

28th

Figure 9. Error bar for the 14th day compressive strength.

4.3. Comparison of CRFA and DRFA

The CRFA, as compared to the DRFA [11], had slightly higher physical properties. Both weretested after floatation and washing as well as handpicking for demolished wastes. The silt contentof DRFA (4.2%) was higher than that of CRFA (3.9%) due to many sources of fine particles in DRFA.These fine particles increased the water absorption capacity of the DRFA (6.84%), and the CRFA had

Page 12: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 12 of 15

5.1%. The silt content and the water absorption capacity of recycled fine aggregate could directly affectfresh and hardened concrete properties.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 15

337 Figure 8. Error bar for the seventh day compressive strength. 338

339 Figure 9. Error bar for the 14th day compressive strength. 340

341 Figure 10. Error bar for the 28th day compressive strength. 342

4.3. Comparison of CRFA and DRFA 343 The CRFA, as compared to the DRFA [11], had slightly higher physical properties. Both were 344

tested after floatation and washing as well as handpicking for demolished wastes. The silt content of 345 DRFA (4.2%) was higher than that of CRFA (3.9%) due to many sources of fine particles in DRFA. 346

1517192123252729

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

7th

15202530354045

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacemnt (%)

14th

152025303540

0 25 50 75 100Avg.

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

28th

Figure 10. Error bar for the 28th day compressive strength.

The compressive strength of concrete with DRFA was relatively lower than the concrete with CRFA.In the experimental investigation, the concrete with both types of recycled fine aggregates attainedthe targeted mean strength at 50% but failed to attain the target at 75%. However, the compressivestrength of concrete with DRFA at 50% was less than that of CRFA concrete at 50% replacement. Theconcrete with CRFA could replace the natural sand above 50 %, but DRFA could not replace naturalsand above 50% without further treatment. From Figures 11–13, the compressive strength of concretewith CRFA and DRFA for the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days of the curing period were decreasedas percentage of replacement increased. For the seventh day curing period, the compressive strengthsof both DRFA and CRFA attained the targeted mean strength up to 75% of replacement. For the 14thand the 28th days of curing, the intersection of compressive strength of CRFA and DRFA with meantargeted strength was between 50% and 75% replacement percentage, indicating the optimum amountof replacement was between 50% to 75%.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 12 of 15

These fine particles increased the water absorption capacity of the DRFA (6.84%), and the CRFA had 347 5.1%. The silt content and the water absorption capacity of recycled fine aggregate could directly 348 affect fresh and hardened concrete properties. 349

The compressive strength of concrete with DRFA was relatively lower than the concrete with 350 CRFA. In the experimental investigation, the concrete with both types of recycled fine aggregates 351 attained the targeted mean strength at 50% but failed to attain the target at 75%. However, the 352 compressive strength of concrete with DRFA at 50% was less than that of CRFA concrete at 50% 353 replacement. The concrete with CRFA could replace the natural sand above 50 %, but DRFA could 354 not replace natural sand above 50% without further treatment. From Figures 11–13, the compressive 355 strength of concrete with CRFA and DRFA for the seventh, the 14th, and the 28th days of the curing 356 period were decreased as percentage of replacement increased. For the seventh day curing period, 357 the compressive strengths of both DRFA and CRFA attained the targeted mean strength up to 75% 358 of replacement. For the 14th and the 28th days of curing, the intersection of compressive strength of 359 CRFA and DRFA with mean targeted strength was between 50% and 75% replacement percentage, 360 indicating the optimum amount of replacement was between 50% to 75%. 361

362

Figure 11. The seventh day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA. 363

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

0 25 50 75 100

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

7 th

DRFA CRFA Targeted mean strength

Figure 11. The seventh day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA.

Page 13: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 13 of 15Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 13 of 15

364

Figure 12. The 14th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA. 365

366 Figure 13. The 28th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA. 367

5. Conclusions 368 In this research, the properties of the recycled fine aggregate from a production site of HCB were 369

examined and compared with the ASTM standard requirement of fine aggregates. The recycled fine 370 aggregate from production site HCB was compared to the recycled fine aggregate from demolished 371 HCB. 372

Generally, the recycled fine aggregate exhibited relatively lower physical properties than natural 373 river sand. Gradation, silt content, specific gravity, water absorption capacity, moisture content, and 374 bulk density satisfied the ASTM requirements. 375 • Recycled fine aggregates had high water absorption capacity and higher silt content than the 376

natural river sand, which could affect the concrete properties at fresh and hardened states. 377 • High silt content was due to fine particles from crushing and from the mortar in the HCB, which 378

could increase the absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregate. 379

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

0 25 50 75 100

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

14th

DRFA CRFA Targeted mean

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

0 25 50 75Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

28th

DRFA CRFA Targeted mean strength

Figure 12. The 14th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA.

Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 13 of 15

364

Figure 12. The 14th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA. 365

366 Figure 13. The 28th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA. 367

5. Conclusions 368 In this research, the properties of the recycled fine aggregate from a production site of HCB were 369

examined and compared with the ASTM standard requirement of fine aggregates. The recycled fine 370 aggregate from production site HCB was compared to the recycled fine aggregate from demolished 371 HCB. 372

Generally, the recycled fine aggregate exhibited relatively lower physical properties than natural 373 river sand. Gradation, silt content, specific gravity, water absorption capacity, moisture content, and 374 bulk density satisfied the ASTM requirements. 375 • Recycled fine aggregates had high water absorption capacity and higher silt content than the 376

natural river sand, which could affect the concrete properties at fresh and hardened states. 377 • High silt content was due to fine particles from crushing and from the mortar in the HCB, which 378

could increase the absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregate. 379

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

0 25 50 75 100

Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

14th

DRFA CRFA Targeted mean

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

0 25 50 75Com

pres

sive

stren

gth

(MPa

)

Percent of replacement (%)

28th

DRFA CRFA Targeted mean strength

Figure 13. The 28th day compressive strength of DRFA and CRFA.

5. Conclusions

In this research, the properties of the recycled fine aggregate from a production site of HCB wereexamined and compared with the ASTM standard requirement of fine aggregates. The recycled fineaggregate from production site HCB was compared to the recycled fine aggregate from demolished HCB.

Generally, the recycled fine aggregate exhibited relatively lower physical properties than naturalriver sand. Gradation, silt content, specific gravity, water absorption capacity, moisture content, andbulk density satisfied the ASTM requirements.

• Recycled fine aggregates had high water absorption capacity and higher silt content than thenatural river sand, which could affect the concrete properties at fresh and hardened states.

• High silt content was due to fine particles from crushing and from the mortar in the HCB, whichcould increase the absorption capacity of the recycled fine aggregate.

• In recycling construction waste to increase the quality of the recycled fine aggregate, somepurification procedures had to be applied, such as identifying different wastes in their category

Page 14: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 14 of 15

and types. After crushing, washing reduced the silt content, and floatation could reducelightweight materials in recycled fine aggregate.

• The recycled fine aggregate had a lower unit weight than the natural river sand, and thus thedensity of hardened concrete was also lower than the reference mix unit weight, and this was dueto the old mortar.

• The concrete from recycled fine aggregate had a higher w/c ratio than the reference mix foruniform workability.

• As the percentage of replacement of CRFA increased, the compressive strength decreased. TheCRFA could replace the natural river sand by more than 50% but not up to 75%.

• The compressive strength of concrete with 50% CRFA replacement attained the targeted meanstrength of C-25 concrete, but for concrete with 75% CRFA, it failed to attain the targeted strength.The optimum percentage of replacement of CRFA fell between 50% and 75% but was closer to75%.

• The recycled fine aggregate from demolished HCB (old) wastes had slightly fewer physicalproperties compared to the construction (new) HCB wastes. The DRFA had higher silt contentand high water absorption capacity due to different wastes from plastering, gypsum, painting,and joint mortar of HCB construction.

• This research indicated that the replacement percentage of CRFA was higher than that of DRFA [11]and also higher than [24] previous studies on recycling demolition waste sandcrete as aggregate.

From this research, the construction and the demolition HCB wastes could replace the naturalriver sand up to 50%, and this could reduce environmental impacts due to waste disposal and riversand mining.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, L.F.N.; Methodology, L.F.N.; Data collection and Formal analysis,L.F.N.; Investigation, L.F.N.; Validation, L.F.N.; Original draft writing and editing, L.F.N.; Supervision and editing,M.M.D., T.G.; Project Administration, M.M.D., T.G.

Funding: This research was funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), andthe APC was funded by Jimma University Institute of Technology and Texas Tech University.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

1. Said, M.; Ait-Medjber, F.; Safi, B.; Samar, M. Recycling of Aggregates from Construction Demolition Wastesin Concrete: Study of Physical and Mechanical Properties. Int. J. Civ. Environ. Struct. Constr. Archit. Eng.2014, 8, 1307–1311.

2. de Jorge, B.; Catarina, N.; Rosário, V. Using Fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Mortar Production. Mater.Res. 2014, 17, 168–177.

3. Minwyelet, M.; Shewit, G. Could sand mining be a major threat for the declining endemic Labeobarbusspecies of Lake Tana, Ethiopia? Singap. J. Trop. Geogr. 2016, 37, 195–208.

4. Taffese, W.Z. Suitability Investigation of Recycled Concrete Aggregates for Concrete Production: AnExperimental Case Study. Adv. Civ. Eng. 2018, 2018, 8368351. [CrossRef]

5. Andal, J.; Shehata, M.; Zacarias, P. Properties of concrete containing a recycled concrete aggregate of preservedquality. Constr. Build. Mater. 2016, 125, 842–855. [CrossRef]

6. Sewnet, H.; Cherenet, Z. Building Ethiopia: Sustainability and Innovation in Architecture and Design; EthiopianInstitute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development: Addis Ababa, Ethiopian, 2012.

7. Castorina, S.; Paulo, M. Use of recycled construction and demolition materials in geotechnical. Resour.Conserv. Recycl. 2015, 103, 192–204.

8. Yadhu, G.; Devi, S.A. An Innovative Study on Reuse of Demolished Concrete Waste. Civ. Environ. Eng. 2015,5, 1–3.

9. Martinelli, E.; Koenders, E.A.; Toledo, F.R.D.; Pepe, M. Alternative Processing procedures for recycledaggregates in structural concrete. Constr. Build. Mater. 2015, 69, 124–132.

Page 15: Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Recycled Fine

Sustainability 2019, 11, 7116 15 of 15

10. Park, W.-J.; Ryu, H.-S.; Kim, D.-M.; Shin, S.-H.; Lim, S.-M. Evaluation on the Surface Modification of RecycledFine Aggregates in Aqueous H 2 SiF 6 Solution. Int. J. Concr. Struct. Mater. 2018, 12, 19.

11. Nigussie, L.F.; Darwish, M.M.; Ghebrab, T. Recycling Fine Aggregate from Demolished Hollow ConcreteBlock for Green Concrete in Ethiopia. Glob. J. Eng. Sci. 2019, 3, 1–10.

12. BATCoDA. Technical Specification & Method of Measurement; BATCoDA: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1991.13. ASTM 129. Standard Specification for Non-Load-Bearing Concrete Masonry Units; ASTM: West Conshohocken,

PA, USA, 2017.14. ASTM C117. Standard Test Method for Materials Finer than 75-µm (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by

Washing; ASTM: West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 1995.15. ASTM C29/C29M. Standard Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in Aggregate; ASTM: West

Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2009.16. ACI Committee-211. Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal, Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete;

ACI: Framington Hills, MI, USA, 2002.17. ASTM C136-06. Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates; ASTM: West Conshohocken,

PA, USA, 2006.18. ASTM 566. Standard Test Method for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying; ASTM: West

Conshohocken, PA, USA, 1997.19. ASTM C128. Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate; ASTM: West

Conshohocken, PA, USA, 1997.20. ASTMC143. Standard Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic Cement Concrete; ASTMC: West Conshohocken, PA,

USA, 2001.21. EBCS 2. Structural Use of Concrete; Ministry of Works & Urban Development: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1995.22. Deshmukh, M. REUCRETE: Replacement of Fine Aggregate by Demolished Waste Concrete. In Proceedings

of the International Conference On Emanations in Modern Technology and Engineering, Maharashtra, India,4–5 March 2017; Volume 5, No. 3. pp. 46–52.

23. Özalp, F.; Yılmaz, H.D.; Kara, M.; Kaya, Ö.; Sahin, A. Effects of recycled aggregates from construction anddemolition wastes on mechanical and permeability properties of paving stone, kerb and concrete pipes.Constr. Buil. Mater. 2016, 110, 17–23. [CrossRef]

24. Umoh, A.A. Recycling demolition Waste Sandcrete Blocks as aggregate in Concrete. ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci.2012, 7, 1111–1118.

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open accessarticle distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution(CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).