An Experimental Study of Self-Compacting Concrete Made with Filler from Construction and Demolition Waste

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of the Portland cement replacement by 0, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) filler contents in the production of self-compacting concrete (SCC). The SCC mixtures were evaluated on fresh state by slump flow, J-ring, resistance of segregation, specific gravity, and on hardened state by compressive and splitting tensile strength, specific gravity, air voids and absorption rate. The results indicated that all SCC produced with CDW filler met the limits established at any level of substitution without changes of the w/c ratio or superplasticizer content. It was possible to verify that the presence of CDW filler, in substitution of cement, by volume, improves the resistance to segregation and up to 5% of CDW filler decreases the loss of fluidity with time as compared to reference. It was found that all SCC mixtures, at 28 days, had the average compressive strength above 50 MPa, without showing significant loss with up to 20% of CDW filler. For splitting tensile strength, SCC recycled mixtures reached up to 92.5% of the SCC used as reference. Absorption rate and air voids index of SCC recycled mixtures had a maximum increase of 1.60%Compared to the reference one. So, it is possible to conclude that the use of the CDW filler up to 20% in substitution of cement, by volume, is feasible for SCC production.