Mechanical behaviour of non-structural concrete made with recycled ceramic aggregates

In order to reduce the volume of ceramic waste from the construction industry, it is possible, among other applications, to use it as aggregates in the production of non-structural concrete artefacts. The main characteristics of such aggregates as well as those of the fresh and hardened concrete made with them (after a standardized pre-saturation procedure) are presented here and compared with those of conventional materials (primary stone aggregates and the concretes made exclusively with them), within a larger experimental investigation to maximize the reuse and reutilization of construction and demolition waste. The results show that there is a potential for the use of these ceramic aggregates in elements in which the primary requirement is not compressive strength but tensile strength and abrasion resistance, such as for concrete pavement stabs. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.