May recycled concrete be used as an alternative material for asphalt mixtures?

Abstract

Recycling of materials is a growing need nowadays, to ensure the sustainable development of the Society, reducing the use of natural resources and preventing wastes. In this context, some wastes obtained from construction and demolition works are likely to be utilized in new products. Therefore, this work aims at investigating the properties of recycled concrete, as one of the primary construction waste materials, to study the feasibility of its use (added value) as part of the aggregates applied in asphalt mixtures for road pavements. Laboratory tests were performed to characterize and compare the recycled concrete to natural granite. Then, the influence of using 30% waste material in asphalt mixtures was assessed through water sensitivity tests. As a conclusion, the use of recycled concrete as an alternative aggregate for asphalt mixtures is viable, but its application should be prudent due to its high water absorption and low wear resistance.