STRENGTH AND DURABILITY STUDIES ON RECYCLED

AGGREGATES IN M20 AND M25 GRADES

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING

With specialization in
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Submitted by

VITTAL CHINTHAPALLI
Regd. No. 317206311003

Under the esteemed guidance of

Prof. D.S.R MURTY, PhD
Professor of Civil Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ANDHRA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
OF ENGINEERING (A)
VISAKHAPATNAM - 530003
(2017-2019)

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ANDHRA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (A)

VISAKHAPATNAM

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “STRENGTH AND DURABILITY STUDIES
ON RECYCLED AGGREGATES IN M20 AND M25 GRADES” submitted by VITTAL
CHINTHAPALLI with Regd. No. 317206311003 of 2017- 2019 batch in partial fulfillment of
the requirement for the award of the degree of MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY in CIVIL
ENGINEERING with specialization in STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING , Andhra University
College of Engineering(A), Visakhapatnam is a record of bonafide research work carried out
by him under my guidance and supervision.

Place: Visakhapatnam Prof. D.S.R.MURTY

Date: (Dissertation Guide)

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 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ANDHRA UNIVERSITYCOLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (A)

VISAKHAPATNAM - 530003

DISSERTATION EVALUATION REPORT

This dissertation entitled “STRENGTH AND DURABILITY STUDIES ON RECYCLED
AGGREGATES IN M20 AND M25 GRADES” has been submitted by Mr. VITTAL
CHINTHAPALLI with Register No - 317206311003 of 2017-2019 batch in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY in CIVIL
ENGINEERING with specialization in STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING .

EXAMINERS:

1. ___________________ Dissertation Guide

Prof. D.S.R.Murty

2. ___________________ External Examiner

3. ___________________ Chairman, Board of studies

Prof. K. Rambabu (Dept. of Civil Engineering)

4. ___________________ Head of the Department

Prof. T.V. Praveen (Dept. of Civil Engineering)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It is my privilege to express my gratitude to my dissertation guide

Prof. D.S.R.Murty, Department of Civil Engineering, Andhra University College of
Engineering (A), Visakhapatnam, for his guidance and his valuable suggestions for completion
of my dissertation.

I’m thankful to Prof.T.V.Praveen, Head of Civil Engineering Department, Andhra

University college of Engineering (A), Visakhapatnam, for providing the necessary facilities in
the department throughout our course of study.

I gratefully express my sincere thanks to Prof. D.S.R.Murty, Chairman, Board of

studies, Civil Engineering Department, Andhra University College of engineering(A),
Visakhapatnam, for his help during the period of work.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to the staff members of S.M Laboratory for their kind
help and co-operation during my work.
I sincerely thank my Classmates and Friends for their kind help and co-operation during
my work.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the encouragement given by my
family members during the period of dissertation work.

VITTAL CHINTHAPALLI
(317206311003)

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 ABSTRACT
The main objective of the study is on recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) obtained from
demolished old structures. Reusing aggregate present in concrete can be a good way to
reduce construction costs and providing some benefits to the environment by reducing
landfill. While M-sand is used as alternative of fine aggregate And use pozzolana cement
increases the durability of the structure to some extent due to its low heat of hydration.
In this work mechanical properties of recycled coarse aggregate with M-Sand were studied
Strength studies such as compression strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength
were conducted on M20 and M25 grades of concrete with 40% RAC. Durability studies
such as permeability test and acid attack on concrete cubes, and microstructure studies like
XRD analysis and SEM analysis were conducted.
In the present experimental work 40% use of recycled aggregate concrete with M-sand
showed a good influence in contribution of strength and durability properties. In SEM and
XRD analysis chemical composition, crystal size was studied and formation of C-S-H gel
was observed.

Keywords: Recycled aggregate concrete, M-Sand, SEM, XRD, Acid exposure, permeability

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 CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.

TITLE SHEET I
CERTIFICATE II
DISSERTATION EVALUATION REPORT III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IV
ABSTRACT V
CONTENTS VI
LIST OF TABLES IX
LIST OF FIGURES X
NOTATION XII
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 01
1 General 02
1.1 Cement 02

1.2 Recycled aggregates 03

1.3 Manufactured sand 06
1.4 Necessity of present study 08
1.5 Objectives 09
1.6 Organization of project 10

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 11

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION 15

3.1 General 15
3.2 Materials used and test 17
3.2.1 Cement 20
3.3 Aggregates 20
3.3.1 Tests conducted on aggregates 23
3.4 water 28

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CHAPTER 4: TESTS ON CONCRETE 30
4.1 Tests on fresh concrete 30
4.1.1 Workability 30
4.1.2 Slump cone test 31
4.1.3 Compaction factor test 31
4.1.4 Mixing of concrete 32
4.1.5 Casting of specimens 34
4.1.6 Curing of specimen 34
4.2 Tests on hardened concrete 35
4.2.1 Compressive strength test 35
4.2.2 Split tensile strength test 36
4.2.3 Flexural strength test 37
4.3 Tests on durability of concrete 38
4.3.1 Acid attack 38
4.3.1.1 Procedure for volumetric analysis 39
4.3.2 Permeability test on concrete 39
4.3.2.1 Test Specimens 40
4.3.2.2 Test Procedure 40
4.4 x-ray diffraction test (XRD) 40
4.4.1 Procedure of conducting the XRD Analysis 43
4.5. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) 45

CHAPTER 5: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 48

5.1 Compressive strength of RAC M30 48
5.2 Split tensile strength of RAC M30 49

5.3 Flexural strength of RAC M30 50

5.4 Compressive strength of RAC M35 51
5.5 Split tensile strength of RAC M35 52
5.6 Flexural strength of RAC M35 53

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 5.7 Acid attacks 54
5.7.1 Acid attack of RAC M30 grade concrete of 0.1% H2SO4 54
5.7.2 Acid attack of RAC M30 grade concrete of 0.3% H2SO4 56
5.7.3 Acid attack of RAC M35 grade concrete of 0.1% H2SO4 58
5.7.4 Acid attack of RAC M35 grade concrete of 0.3% H2SO4 60
5.8 Permeability Test on concrete of RAC M30 62
5.8.1 Permeability Test on concrete of RAC M35 62
5.9 X-ray diffraction analysis 64
5.9.1 X-ray diffraction analysis RAC M30 64
5.9.2 X-ray diffraction analysis RAC M35 67
5.10 Scanning Electron Microscope images 71
5.10.1 SEM RAC M30 71
5.10.2 SEM RAC M35 72
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS AND SCOPE FOR FURTHER STUDY 73
6.1 Conclusions 73
6.2 Scope for further study 74
REFERENCES 75
IS CODES 76
APPENDIX – I 77
APPENDIX – II 80
APPENDIX – III 81
APPENDIX – IV 83
APPENDIX – V 85

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 LIST OF TABLES
Table Description Page No.
No.

3.1 Specimens cast for strength and durability tests 16

3.2 Physical properties of cement (PPC)(IS 1489(Part-1) : 1991) 25
3.3 Physical properties of fine aggregate – M-sand 25
3.4 Sieve analysis of Fine aggregate – M-sand 26
3.5 Sieve Analysis of Recycled Coarse Aggregate 26
3.6 Physical properties of Recycled coarse aggregate 27
3.7 Sieve Analysis of Coarse Aggregate 27
3.8 Physical properties of Coarse aggregate 28
4.1 Slump cone and compaction factor values 32
5.1 Compressive Strength of Concrete of RAC M30 48

5.2 Split Tensile Strength of Concrete of RAC M20 49

5.3 Flexural Strength of Concrete of RAC M20 50
5.4 Compressive Strength of Concrete of RAC M25 51
5.5 Split Tensile Strength of Concrete of RAC M25 52
5.6 Flexural Strength of Concrete of RAC M25 53
5.7 Acid attack of RAC M20 grade concrete of 0.1% H2S04 54
5.7.1 Acid attack of RAC M20 grade concrete of 0.3% H2S04 56
5.7.3 Acid attack of RAC M25 grade concrete of 0.1% H2S04 58
5.7.4 Acid attack of RAC M25 grade concrete of 0.3% H2S04 60

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5.8 Permeability of Concrete RAC M20 62
5.8.1 Permeability of Concrete RAC M25 62
5.8.2 Standard classification of concrete (GWT): 63
5.9 Compounds and its 2θ degree for RAC M20 65
5.9.1 Compounds and its crystallite size for RAC 20 66
5.9.2 Compounds and its 2θ degree for RAC M25 68
5.9.3 Compounds and its crystallite size for RAC 25 69
5.9.4 Compound matrix for RAC M30 and RACM35 70

LIST OF FIGURES

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Figure Description Page No.
No.

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 1 Pie chart for solid waste 1

1.1 Hydration of cement 3

1.2 Recycling process of RCA 4

4.1 Slump cone test 31

4.2 Casting of specimens 32

4.3 Casting of cubes 33

4.4 Casting of cylinders 34

4.5 Casting of prisms 34

4.6 Compressive strength test 35

4.7 Split tensile strength test 37

4.8 Flexural strength test 38

4.9 Permeability apparatus 39

4.10 Bragg ‘s law image 41

4.11 schematic of x-ray diffractometer 42

4.12 XRD instrument IIT Madras 44

4.13 Scanning Electron Microscopy instrument IIT Madras 46

4.14 Diagrammatic representation of tests on hardened concrete 47

5.1 Compressive strength of RAC M20 48

5.2 Split tensile strength of RAC M20 49

5.3 Flexural strength of RAC M20 50

5.4 Compressive strength of RAC M25 51

5.5 Split tensile strength of RAC M25 52

5.6 Flexural strength of RAC M25 53

5.7 weight loss due to 0.1% of H2SO4 solution on RAC M20 55

5.8 Residual compressive strength of 0.1% H2SO4 solution RAC M20 55

5.9 weight loss due to 0.3% of H2SO4 solution on RAC M20 57

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 5.10 Residual compressive strength of 0.3% H2SO4 solution RAC M20 57

5.11 weight loss due to 0.1% of H2SO4 solution on RAC M25 59

5.12 Residual compressive strength of 0.1% H2SO4 solution RAC M25 59

5.13 weight loss due to 0.3% of H2SO4 solution on RAC M25 61

5.14 Residual compressive strength of 0.3% H2SO4 solution RAC M25 61

5.15 Graph obtained from Xpert high score software for RAC M20 64

5.16 Graph 2θ degree vs. heights RAC M20 65

5.17 Graph obtained from Xpert high score software for RAC M25 67

5.18 Graph 2θ degree vs. heights RAC M25 68

5.19 Scanning electron microscopy of RAC M20 at 5 µm 71

5.20 Scanning electron microscopy of RAC M20 at 3 µm 71

5.21 Scanning electron microscopy of RAC M25 at 5 µm 72

5.22 Scanning electron microscopy of RAC M25 at 10 µm 72

NOTATION

ASTM - American society for testing and material

BIS - Bureau of Indian Standard

OPC - Ordinary Portland cement

PPC - Portland Pozzolana Cement

RCA - Recycled concrete aggregate

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NS - Nanosilica

IS - Indian standard

fck - Characteristic Compressive Strength of concrete

ftarget - Target mean strength at the age of 28 days

S - Standard deviation

C-S-H - Calcium Silicate Hydrate gel

CH - Calcium Hydroxide

C2S - Di-Calcium Silicate

C3S - Tri- Calcium Silicate

C3A - Tri-calcium Aluminates

C4AF - Tetra-calcium Alumino Ferrite

fb - Modulus of rupture

fct - Split tensile strength

SEM - Scanning Electron microscope

H2SO4 - Sulphuric Acid

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