Crushing previously tested concrete cylinders to obtain fragments that, after a particle size classification process, become recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) ready to be used in new structural concrete mixes. This process replicates real industrial conditions for the valorization of construction waste. Credit: André Pico-Molineros, Eduardo Sanchez-Rojas, Dan V. Bompa, Natividad García-Troncoso / ESPOL Polytechnic University & University of Surrey
A new study challenges one of the most deeply rooted assumptions in civil engineering: that using recycled materials in structural concrete inevitably means sacrificing strength. Researchers from Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, in collaboration with the University of Surrey, have demonstrated that recycled aggregates can be incorporated into concrete without compromising performance—provided certain technical limits are respected. The findings are published in the journal Construction and Building Materials.
The research addresses an urgent issue in the construction industry: the enormous volume of construction and demolition waste that remains underutilized despite its potential to reduce the sector's environmental impact. However, the variability of these materials—particularly mixed recycled aggregates (MRA)—has raised concerns about their reliability in structural applications.
