Assessment of longitudinal and transversal plastic behavior of recycled aggregate self-compacting concrete: A two-way study

Plastic strain behavior in the transversal direction to the axis of loading has often been underestimated in concrete design and its strength performance. However, as this article demonstrates, it is fundamental to define the viability of using concrete of a certain composition in real applications. In this study, 15 Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) mixtures produced with Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) were subjected to a monotonic-load test and a 5-cycle loading/un-loading test with increasing maximum loads. Continuous monitoring of the applied loads and the SCC strain was performed. In the transversal direction, these tests caused the appearance of a yield step, cracking by vertical splitting, and higher levels of deformability than in the longitudinal direction. It was concluded that the RCA content of SCC should be defined according to serviceability conditions when used in compressed elements, to safeguard against failure due to transversal plastic strain. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study emphasizes the importance of plastic strain behavior in the transversal direction to the axis of loading in concrete design, and suggests that the content of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in Self-Compacting Concrete should be defined according to serviceability conditions when used in compressed elements to prevent failure due to transversal plastic strain.