Green Concrete and Mortar Made with Recycled Aggregate – a Step towards Sustainability in Civil Engineering

Abstract

The testing of physical and mechanical properties has always been the starting point for production of adequate cement composites, such as concrete and mortar. The need to preserve the environment by recycling materials, among other means, has found its recognition in production of mortars and concretes made with recycled aggregate. The paper deals with the specific aspects regarding the use of aggregate based on the recycled rubber, recycled brick and recycled concrete in mortar and concrete mixtures, with respect to the advantages and disadvantages of these aggregates. Properties such as density and consistency of fresh mixtures, as well as hardened state density, and hardened state compressive, flexural and bond strength will be used to quantify and assess the effect of the recycled materials on cement properties, in order to provide their practical use. The testing was conducted on the composites with local materials and in local laboratory conditions. A special part relates to the use of these materials in Self-Compacting Concrete mixtures, where the extreme attention to the component testing, mix proportioning, and production technology has to be paid.