Mechanical Properties of Roller-Compacted Concrete with Recycled Materials
Summary
Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is a low-slump, high-density material placed and compacted with vibratory rollers to form pavements and structural bases. The incorporation of recycled constituents—such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and crumb rubber from end-of-life tyres—addresses resource depletion and landfill pressures. Mechanical behaviour is largely controlled by aggregate quality, interfacial bonding, moisture–cement ratio and compaction energy. Typically, replacing natural aggregates with recycled materials leads to modest reductions in compressive and flexural strengths and stiffness, owing to weaker interfacial transition zones and residual binders on recycled particles. However, the use of supplementary binders (for example nano-silica or alkali activators) and optimised compaction regimes can restore performance by refining pore structure and enhancing bond strength. Microstructural enhancements translate into improved fatigue resistance, reduced permeability and extended service life, making recycled-material RCC an attractive option for sustainable pavement and infrastructure applications worldwide.
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Mechanical Properties of Roller-Compacted Concrete with Recycled Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mechanical properties of roller-compacted concrete with recycled materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Roller-compacted concrete (RCC): A densely compacted concrete mix with minimal slump, placed and compacted by rollers.
Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP): Crushed asphalt removed from existing pavements, reused as aggregate in new concrete.
Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA): Crushed concrete from demolition waste, employed as coarse or fine aggregate in fresh concrete.
Compressive strength: The maximum axial load per unit area that a concrete specimen can sustain before failure.
Flexural strength: The stress at which a concrete beam fails in bending, reflecting its resistance to crack initiation under load.
Modulus of elasticity: The ratio of stress to strain in concrete’s elastic range, indicating its stiffness under load.
References
- Multicriteria-based optimization of roller compacted concrete pavement containing crumb rubber and nano-silica. Nanotechnology Reviews (2024).
- Perspectives on the utilization of reclaimed asphalt pavement in concrete pavement construction: A critical review. Case Studies in Construction Materials (2023).
- Roller Compacted Concrete with Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Paving Bases. Sustainability (2020).
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