Eco-Friendly Lightweight Aggregate Concrete of Structural Grade Made with Recycled Brick Aggregate Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Concrete Mixture Proportions
2.3. Manufacture and Curing of Concrete
2.4. Methods
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Fresh Properties
3.2. Hardened Properties
3.2.1. Apparent and Dry Densities and Bead Distribution
3.2.2. Compressive Strength
3.2.3. Split-Tensile Strength
3.2.4. Modulus of Elasticity
3.3. Practical Feasibility of RBAC with EPS Beads
4. Conclusions
- The use of EPS beads together with RBA as an aggregate in concrete can substantially contribute to equilibrating the demand of renewable resources, leading to a beneficial step forward towards sustainability, economy and solid waste management.
- In general, the use of EPS beads decreased the mechanical properties of the recycled brick aggregate concrete; however, the results showed the potential for producing lightweight concrete of different grades, with densities between 1500 and 1800 kg/m3.
- Recycled brick aggregate concrete as a lightweight concrete of structural grade was obtained by replacing the recycled coarse aggregate with EPS beads in percentages no higher than 25% for two different w/c ratios, 0.43 and 0.39, respectively. For the smallest w/c ratio, with the increase in the replacement percentage to 35%, the compressive strength falls into the range corresponding to lightweight concrete of medium strength, according to ACI 213R-14ACI.
- The developed lightweight concrete presents a uniform distribution of the EPS beads in the hardened concrete, avoiding volume concentrations.
- The influence of the w/c ratio on the compressive strength, which is notable at replacement percentages lower than 25%, decreases for higher replacement percentages with EPS beads, for example, 35% in this study.
- With the increase in the cement content from 360 kg/m3 to 400 kg/m3, for all the determined physical and mechanical properties, higher values were recorded; in addition, the slump increased.
- The values of the w/c ratios used in this experimental study may be considered moderate and low–moderate, denoting that higher concrete strengths are possible to obtain for lower ratios, but a lower workability is expected, which can be counteracted by using the chemical admixtures in a higher content.
- With the increase in the replacement percentage of recycled aggregate with EPS beads from 0% to 35%, the slump of the concrete increased; the cause of such an improvement in the slump was the rounded shape of the EPS beads.
- With the increase in the replacement percentage of recycled aggregate with EPS beads from 0% to 35% for the two w/c ratios 0.43 and 0.39, the highest decreases in the apparent density, compressive strength, split-tensile strength and elasticity modulus were 29%, 68%, 57% and 58%, respectively.
- For the replacement percentages of 15% and 25%, the highest decreases in the compressive strength were 34% and 51%, respectively.
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sieve Size (mm) | Fine Aggregate | Sieve Size (mm) | Coarse Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|
% Passing by Mass | Natural Sand | % Passing by Mass | CRBA |
4 | 100 | 20 | 100 |
2 | 32 | 16 | 97.5 |
1 | 22.80 | 8 | 68 |
0.50 | 13.60 | 4 | 46 |
0.25 | 4.40 | - | - |
0.063 | 0 | - | - |
Property | CRBA 1 | Sand |
---|---|---|
Specific gravity (SSD) [kg/m3] | 2140 | 2600 |
Bulk density [kg/m3] | 1040 | 1730 |
24 h water absorption [%] | 14.4 | 1.2 |
Oxide | CaO | SiO2 | Al2O3 | Fe2O3 | MgO | Na2O | K2O | SO3 | LOI |
[%] | 60.12 | 21.78 | 6.56 | 4.13 | 2.08 | 0.36 | 0.42 | 2.16 | 2.39 |
Series | Mix | W/C | CEM [kg/m3] | EPS [%] | RBA [kg/m3] | Sand [kg/m3] | Water [L/m3] | SP [%] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A (w/c = 0.43) | A400E0 | 0.43 | 400 | 0 | 743 | 817 | 170 | 0.006 |
A400E15 | 400 | 15 | 580 | 761 | 170 | 0.006 | ||
A400E25 | 400 | 25 | 472 | 723 | 170 | 0.006 | ||
A400E35 | 400 | 35 | 363 | 685 | 170 | 0.006 | ||
A360E0 | 360 | 0 | 776 | 852 | 153 | 0.006 | ||
A360E15 | 360 | 15 | 606 | 794 | 153 | 0.006 | ||
A360E25 | 360 | 25 | 492 | 754 | 153 | 0.006 | ||
A360E35 | 360 | 35 | 379 | 715 | 153 | 0.006 | ||
B (w/c = 0.39) | B400E0 | 0.39 | 400 | 0 | 761 | 836 | 154 | 0.010 |
B400E15 | 400 | 15 | 594 | 778 | 154 | 0.010 | ||
B400E25 | 400 | 25 | 483 | 740 | 154 | 0.010 | ||
B400E35 | 400 | 35 | 372 | 701 | 154 | 0.010 | ||
B360E0 | 360 | 0 | 791 | 870 | 139 | 0.010 | ||
B360E15 | 360 | 15 | 618 | 810 | 139 | 0.010 | ||
B360E25 | 360 | 25 | 502 | 770 | 139 | 0.010 | ||
B360E35 | 360 | 35 | 387 | 730 | 139 | 0.010 |
Property Under Evaluation | Standard |
---|---|
Slump test | EN 12350-2 [45] |
Apparent density of hardened concrete | EN 12390-7 [46] |
Compressive strength | EN 12390-3 [47] |
Split-tensile strength | EN 12390-6 [48] |
Modulus of elasticity | EN 12390-13 [49] |
Mix | EPS Replacement in Aggregate | Volume of EPS in Mix | Slump |
---|---|---|---|
[%] | [%] | [mm] | |
A400E0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
A400E15 | 15 | 10.25 | 50 |
A400E25 | 25 | 17.08 | 100 |
A400E35 | 35 | 23.91 | 130 |
A360E0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
A360E15 | 15 | 10.69 | 45 |
A360E25 | 25 | 17.82 | 70 |
A360E35 | 35 | 24.95 | 100 |
B400E0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
B400E15 | 15 | 10.49 | 40 |
B400E25 | 25 | 17.48 | 80 |
B400E35 | 35 | 24.47 | 95 |
B360E0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
B360E15 | 15 | 10.91 | 40 |
B360E25 | 25 | 18.18 | 60 |
B360E35 | 35 | 25.45 | 80 |
Mix | EPS Replacement in Aggregate | Volume of EPS in Mix | Apparent Density | Relative Value | Dry Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
[%] | [%] | [kg/m3] | [kg/m3] | ||
A400E0 | 0 | 0 | 2100 | 1.00 | 2010 |
A400E15 | 15 | 10.25 | 1850 | 0.88 | 1770 |
A400E25 | 25 | 17.08 | 1700 | 0.81 | 1630 |
A400E35 | 35 | 23.91 | 1500 | 0.71 | 1440 |
A360E0 | 0 | 0 | 2050 | 1.00 | 1970 |
A360E15 | 15 | 10.69 | 1800 | 0.88 | 1730 |
A360E25 | 25 | 17.82 | 1700 | 0.83 | 1640 |
A360E35 | 35 | 24.95 | 1470 | 0.72 | 1420 |
B400E0 | 0 | 0 | 2150 | 1.00 | 2080 |
B400E15 | 15 | 10.49 | 1870 | 0.87 | 1810 |
B400E25 | 25 | 17.48 | 1750 | 0.82 | 1700 |
B400E35 | 35 | 24.47 | 1530 | 0.71 | 1490 |
B360E0 | 0 | 0 | 2100 | 1.00 | 2040 |
B360E15 | 15 | 10.91 | 1850 | 0.88 | 1800 |
B360E25 | 25 | 18.18 | 1700 | 0.81 | 1660 |
B360E35 | 35 | 25.45 | 1500 | 0.72 | 1460 |
Mix | EPS Replacement in Aggregate | Volume of EPS in Mix | Compressive Strength | Relative Value | Split-Tensile Strength | Relative Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[%] | [%] | [MPa] | [MPa] | |||
A400E0 | 0 | 0 | 44.32 | 1.00 | 3.98 | 1.00 |
A400E15 | 15 | 10.25 | 30.37 | 0.69 | 3.05 | 0.77 |
A400E25 | 25 | 17.08 | 25.64 | 0.58 | 2.80 | 0.70 |
A400E35 | 35 | 23.91 | 15.35 | 0.35 | 1.87 | 0.46 |
A360E0 | 0 | 0 | 43.35 | 1.00 | 3.83 | 1.00 |
A360E15 | 15 | 10.69 | 28.70 | 0.66 | 2.90 | 0.75 |
A360E25 | 25 | 17.82 | 21.26 | 0.49 | 2.48 | 0.64 |
A360E35 | 35 | 24.95 | 14.25 | 0.33 | 1.86 | 0.48 |
B400E0 | 0 | 0 | 47.37 | 1.00 | 4.46 | 1.00 |
B400E15 | 15 | 10.49 | 33.62 | 0.71 | 3.20 | 0.72 |
B400E25 | 25 | 17.48 | 29.25 | 0.62 | 3.17 | 0.70 |
B400E35 | 35 | 24.47 | 15.08 | 0.32 | 1.95 | 0.43 |
B360E0 | 0 | 0 | 46.60 | 1.00 | 4.30 | 1.00 |
B360E15 | 15 | 10.91 | 31.00 | 0.66 | 3.10 | 0.72 |
B360E25 | 25 | 18.18 | 24.56 | 0.53 | 2.64 | 0.61 |
B360E35 | 35 | 25.45 | 14.75 | 0.32 | 1.90 | 0.44 |
Mix | EPS Replacement in Aggregate | Volume of EPS in Mix | Modulus of Elasticity Ecs | Relative Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
[%] | [%] | [GPa] | ||
A400E0 | 0 | 0 | 28.40 | 1.00 |
A400E15 | 15 | 10.25 | 23.40 | 0.82 |
A400E25 | 25 | 17.08 | 20.10 | 0.71 |
A400E35 | 35 | 23.91 | 13.50 | 0.47 |
A360E0 | 0 | 0 | 27.40 | 1.00 |
A360E15 | 15 | 10.69 | 22.40 | 0.81 |
A360E25 | 25 | 17.82 | 18.30 | 0.67 |
A360E35 | 35 | 24.95 | 13.00 | 0.47 |
B400E0 | 0 | 0 | 33.02 | 1.00 |
B400E15 | 15 | 10.49 | 24.63 | 0.75 |
B400E25 | 25 | 17.48 | 20.72 | 0.63 |
B400E35 | 35 | 24.47 | 13.78 | 0.42 |
B360E0 | 0 | 0 | 31.86 | 1.00 |
B360E15 | 15 | 10.91 | 23.58 | 0.74 |
B360E25 | 25 | 18.18 | 18.87 | 0.60 |
B360E35 | 35 | 25.45 | 13.27 | 0.41 |
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Rosca, B. Eco-Friendly Lightweight Aggregate Concrete of Structural Grade Made with Recycled Brick Aggregate Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads. Sustainability 2025, 17, 3050. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073050
Rosca B. Eco-Friendly Lightweight Aggregate Concrete of Structural Grade Made with Recycled Brick Aggregate Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads. Sustainability. 2025; 17(7):3050. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073050
Chicago/Turabian StyleRosca, Bogdan. 2025. "Eco-Friendly Lightweight Aggregate Concrete of Structural Grade Made with Recycled Brick Aggregate Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads" Sustainability 17, no. 7: 3050. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073050
APA StyleRosca, B. (2025). Eco-Friendly Lightweight Aggregate Concrete of Structural Grade Made with Recycled Brick Aggregate Containing Expanded Polystyrene Beads. Sustainability, 17(7), 3050. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073050