Sustainable and Durable Reinforced Concrete Construction

Recycled aggregates used in combination with high-volume fly ash is an example of sustainable construction material because it represents a judicious use of resources by recycling by-products, that results in a lower environmental impact through reduced carbon dioxide emissions and reduced natural aggregate extraction from quarries. Furthermore, the related concrete mixtures yield satisfactory mechanical performance. The goal of the experimental work reported here was to investigate the effect of recycled aggregate and/or fly ash on carbonation and chloride penetration depth, as well as the effect on corrosion behavior of either bare or galvanized steel in cracked reinforced concrete. The concrete mixture contained equal amounts of fly ash and cement. The results show that the introduction of the sustainability concept in concrete technology by using recycled aggregate and/or fly ash did not cause any deleterious effects on durability of reinforced concrete specimens in terms of both chloride and carbon dioxide penetration, and reinforcement corrosion in cracked concrete.