Influence of red-clay ceramic content of recycled aggregate on the properties of pervious concrete

ABSTRACT Construction and demolition waste can be used as recycled aggregates in different civil construction applications. The substitution of natural aggregate from pervious concrete by recycled aggregates is a sustainable alternative that ensures a final destination of these materials. However, the composition of such waste will influence directly the properties of the pervious concrete, especially with regard to the amount of ceramic material. Thus, this study analyzed the influence of recycled aggregates composition on the strength and permeability of pervious concrete. Aggregates containing 10, 25, 50 and 100% red-clay ceramic waste were obtained by mixing a construction and demolition waste (with 2,92% ceramic) and ceramic brick waste. A natural aggregate and a recycled concrete aggregate were also analyzed. The pervious concrete was characterized with regard to compressive strength, permeability coefficient, void content, water absorption and specific mass. The permeability of all pervious concretes ranged between 0,82 and 0,95 cm.s-1. The permeability coefficient decreased with the increase in the amount of ceramic in the mixture. The compressive strength of the concrete with 0% ceramic was higher than the other concretes, resulting in 10,15 MPa. The concretes containing ceramic resulted in strength below 3,00 MPa. The void content of the concretes did not vary significantly, ranging between 32,13 and 37,35%. No direct relation was observed between the void content, permeability and compressive strength. However, the strength was higher with the apparent specific mass increase and the permeability coefficient was lower in the concretes with higher water absorption.