The Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate in the Production of Concrete Blocks

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The objective of this project is to understand the performance of concrete blocks made with recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). The Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association (CCMPA) is the representative voice of the Canadian concrete block manufacturing industry. Besides working to ensure the highest standards of quality and to maintain the masonry industry's strong market presence, the CCMPA has embraced the sustainability agenda with tangible improvements in processes and use of recycled materials. To further expand its sustainability profile, the CCMPA is currently interested in applications of recycled materials as aggregate alternatives, especially recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) from masonry manufacturing waste. To produce high quality units, block producers generally define concrete mixes by a trial process that makes it difficult to test new types of aggregates, such as RCA, because it interferes with production efficiency. Furthermore, block producers normally produce block in runs of thousands of units at a time, which makes it difficult to make many trial mixes with different RCA replacement ratios. Thus, this project aims at solving this industry-specific problem by finding the most promising design mixes to produce RCA concrete blocks using half block forms at Queen's University. The scientific data resulting from this study will allow the CCMPA's members to produce concrete blocks made with RCA that have similar strength and durability as those made with natural aggregate. Block producers will benefit from an increased market share resulting in job creation in Canada. The development of this new product will expand the CCMPA's sustainability portfolio and solidify its position as a leader in the block industry. Large-scale recycling of concrete waste in concrete masonry block production can help in preserving natural aggregate resources from depletion, reducing the cost of waste treatment prior to disposal, and protecting the biodiversity in Canadian lands and water bodies.******