Recycled aggregate concrete: Particle Packing Method (PPM) of mix design approach

Abstract

A sustainable and eco-friendly approach is essential for the construction industry, as it is one of the major sectors responsible for the depletion of the natural resources and the generation of greenhouse gases. In this context, the recycled aggregate (RA) is an effective alternative to natural aggregate. But, the use of RA has not gained popularity yet, because of the inferior quality of RA and yielded recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) using RA. The proposed Particle Packing Method (PPM) of design mix is executed along with the established Two Stage Mixing Approach (TSMA) to produce RAC by completely replacing the natural coarse aggregate. The synergistic effect of PPM design mix and TSMA on fresh and hardened stage performance of RAC were studied. In this context, a comparative analysis showed encouraging results for the PPM design mix as compared to the IS: 10262 (2009) method of mix design approach.