Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete
In the context of sustainable construction, recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs), including both fine and coarse fractions derived from construction and demolition waste (CDW), are gaining traction due to their potential to mitigate environmental impacts by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1361 |
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| author | Alireza Alibeigibeni Flavio Stochino Marco Zucca Fernando López Gayarre |
| author_facet | Alireza Alibeigibeni Flavio Stochino Marco Zucca Fernando López Gayarre |
| author_sort | Alireza Alibeigibeni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the context of sustainable construction, recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs), including both fine and coarse fractions derived from construction and demolition waste (CDW), are gaining traction due to their potential to mitigate environmental impacts by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and minimizing waste. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the effects of RCAs on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete, including compressive and tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, and resistance to environmental degradation. The review highlights that the presence of adhered mortar and higher porosity in RCAs generally leads to reduced mechanical performance and durability. However, pretreatment methods—mechanical, chemical, and thermal—along with optimized mix designs and the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have shown to significantly improve the concrete properties of RCAs. Additionally, recent studies on carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) capture through the accelerated carbonation of RCAs offer promising environmental benefits. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analyses reveal reductions in energy use, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and material costs when RCAs are properly processed and locally sourced. Despite challenges related to RCA quality variability, the review identifies pathways for the effective use of RCAs in structural applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc8142709e6e4dcda0f9617edf5acd4e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc8142709e6e4dcda0f9617edf5acd4e2025-08-20T03:14:18ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-04-01158136110.3390/buildings15081361Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural ConcreteAlireza Alibeigibeni0Flavio Stochino1Marco Zucca2Fernando López Gayarre3Department of Civil Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Civil Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Civil Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, ItalyDepartment Construction and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Oviedo-Campus Gijón, 33203 Oviedo, SpainIn the context of sustainable construction, recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs), including both fine and coarse fractions derived from construction and demolition waste (CDW), are gaining traction due to their potential to mitigate environmental impacts by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and minimizing waste. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the effects of RCAs on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete, including compressive and tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, and resistance to environmental degradation. The review highlights that the presence of adhered mortar and higher porosity in RCAs generally leads to reduced mechanical performance and durability. However, pretreatment methods—mechanical, chemical, and thermal—along with optimized mix designs and the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have shown to significantly improve the concrete properties of RCAs. Additionally, recent studies on carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) capture through the accelerated carbonation of RCAs offer promising environmental benefits. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analyses reveal reductions in energy use, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, and material costs when RCAs are properly processed and locally sourced. Despite challenges related to RCA quality variability, the review identifies pathways for the effective use of RCAs in structural applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1361recycled concrete aggregate (RCA)sustainable concretestructural concreteconstruction and demolition waste (CDW)mechanical propertiesdurability properties |
| spellingShingle | Alireza Alibeigibeni Flavio Stochino Marco Zucca Fernando López Gayarre Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete Buildings recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) sustainable concrete structural concrete construction and demolition waste (CDW) mechanical properties durability properties |
| title | Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete |
| title_full | Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete |
| title_short | Enhancing Concrete Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Performance of Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCAs) in Structural Concrete |
| title_sort | enhancing concrete sustainability a critical review of the performance of recycled concrete aggregates rcas in structural concrete |
| topic | recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) sustainable concrete structural concrete construction and demolition waste (CDW) mechanical properties durability properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/8/1361 |
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