BEHAVIOR OF REINFORCED CONCRETE SHORT COLUMNS: COMPARATIVE STUDY FOR THREE TYPES OF MIXTURES

Abstract

The mechanical behavior and failure properties of reinforced concrete short columns using different aggregate materials are investigated in this work.  Each of the three concrete mixtures, standard reinforced concrete (RMC), plastic-modified concrete (PMC), and brick-modified concrete (BMC), replaced half of the coarse aggregate with crushed plastic or crushed brick.  Tensile, compressive, and strain testing was applied to control specimens as well as full-scale columns (2 m height, 30 × 40 cm cross-section).  With regard to mechanical performance, including compressive and tensile strengths, stiffness, and fracture resistance, RMC showed the best values.  Although technically feasible, PMC and BMC demonstrated worse performance because of greater porosity and poorer interfacial bonding.  PMC and BMC particularly showed their potential for non-primary structural uses by maintaining adequate load-bearing capability (up to 4000 N) with increasing distortion.  This study provides important new perspectives on the viability of recycled aggregates in structural concrete, therefore providing a sustainable substitute for building materials without sacrificing structural safety under suitable conditions.