Effect of Fly Ash on Frost Resistance and Regeneration of Recycled Aggregate Concrete

Abstract

We investigated the effects of fly ash (FA) content on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) and its regeneration potential under freeze and thaw (F-T) cycles. The physical properties of second-generation recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) were used to analyze the regeneration potential of RAC after F-T cycles. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the interfacial transition zone microstructure of RAC after F-T cycles. Results showed that adding 20% FA to RAC significantly enhanced its mechanical properties and frost resistance. Before the F-T cycles, the compressive strength of RAC with 20% FA reached 48.3 MPa, exceeding research strength target of 40 MPa. A majority of second-generation RCA with FA had been verified to attain class III, which enabled their practical application in non-structural projects such as backfill trenches and road pavement. However, the second-generation RCA with 20% FA can achieve class II, making it ideal for 40 MPa structural concrete.

Keywords

fly-ash content / frost resistance / recycled aggregate concrete / microstructure / regeneration potential

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Wuhan University of Technology and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature