Guidelines for the Waste Concrete Fines

This project will develop guidelines for using waste concrete fines (and the associated wastewater) in concrete by developing methods to rapidly characterize fines samples and evaluating the performance of concrete using these recycled materials. Work in Stage 1 begins with a literature review on issues related to the use of recycled concrete fines. Subsequently, sources of recycled fines will be identified and samples collected and dried. The fines will be characterized after mixing them with water to create solutions/suspensions with 1 to 15% solids and their indices of refraction, pH, and conductivity will be determined. Mortar samples will then be prepared and their setting times and strengths will be measured for a range of recycled fines contents for fines with varying particle sizes. Correlations will be investigated and established to help develop a performance-prediction model for different recycled fines materials. This model will be used to develop guidelines for the use of recycled concrete fines in new concrete mixtures. In Stage 2, a laboratory-scale water recirculation system will be constructed incorporating in-line (continuous reading) sensors for measuring index of refraction, conductivity, and pH. Waste materials will be added to the recirculation system and evaluated using the in-line sensors. Concrete mixtures will then be prepared using the optimal blends of water from the recirculation system (containing waste concrete fines) and freshwater, based on both the in-line measurements and the characteristics of the desired concrete mixtures. An implementation plan for ready-mix concrete producers when upgrading their plants with in-line sensors will be developed along with instructions on applying the guidelines for use of recycled fines.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Active
  • Funding: $94438.00
  • Contract Numbers:

    Project 20-30, IDEA

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Federal Highway Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

    444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 225
    Washington, DC  United States  20001

    National Cooperative Highway Research Program

    Transportation Research Board
    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Project Managers:

    Jawed, Inam

  • Performing Organizations:

    University of Pittsburgh

    Benedum Engineering Hall
    Pittsburgh, PA  United States  15261
  • Principal Investigators:

    Vandenbossche, Julie

  • Start Date: 20141210
  • Expected Completion Date: 0
  • Actual Completion Date: 0
  • Source Data: RiP Project 38330

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01547526
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
  • Contract Numbers: Project 20-30, IDEA
  • Files: TRB, RIP
  • Created Date: Dec 11 2014 1:00AM