FRP-confined recycled glass aggregate concrete: Concept and axial compressive behavior

In this study, the axial compressive behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)-confined recycled glass aggregate concrete (RGAC) was experimentally investigated. In the FRP-confined RGAC, the FRP, a high performance material with high strength and excellent corrosion resistance, is utilized both as confinement and cover to the core concrete in order to increase mechanical performance (strength and deformability) and durability resistance to harsh environmental attack, respectively. Axial compression tests were carried out on a series of RGAC cylindrical columns, including 21 unconfined RGAC specimens and 42 CFRP-confined RGAC specimens. The key test variables examined in this study include the FRP jacket thickness and replacement ratio of aggregates. The test results showed that the compressive behavior (e.g. strength and elastic modulus) of FRP-confined RGAC is comparable to that of FRP-confined normal concrete when the replacement ratio of RGAs is not large than 50%, although the compressive behavior of RGAC has a notable decrease with increasing replacement ratio of recycled glass aggregates (RGAs). The test results also demonstrated that a combined use of coarse and fine RGAs slightly improved the compressive behavior of both confined and unconfined RGAC. Based on this study, an effective way of re-using glass waste can be developed.