Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers

Recycled fine aggregates (RFA) are often prohibited in new construction applications because of their poor physical properties. This paper assesses the feasibility of incorporating steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers to mitigate the drop in mechanical properties and durability of RFA-modif...

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Main Authors: Ali Mardani, Hatice Gizem Şahin, Yahya Kaya, Naz Mardani, Joseph J. Assaad, Hilal El-Hassan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Developments in the Built Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165924002801
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author Ali Mardani
Hatice Gizem Şahin
Yahya Kaya
Naz Mardani
Joseph J. Assaad
Hilal El-Hassan
author_facet Ali Mardani
Hatice Gizem Şahin
Yahya Kaya
Naz Mardani
Joseph J. Assaad
Hilal El-Hassan
author_sort Ali Mardani
collection DOAJ
description Recycled fine aggregates (RFA) are often prohibited in new construction applications because of their poor physical properties. This paper assesses the feasibility of incorporating steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers to mitigate the drop in mechanical properties and durability of RFA-modified cementitious matrices. Testing was conducted on concrete-equivalent mortars with 80–100 MPa compressive strength and later validated on corresponding concrete mixtures. Results showed that the mechanical strengths, drying shrinkage, abrasion, and freeze/thaw resistance degraded when the natural sand was replaced by 100% RFA. The use of steel fibers or silica fume was efficient in restoring these properties within ±8% of the control mix. Meanwhile, latex polymers were more efficient in enhancing the permeability and bond properties with steel reinforcement within ±5% of the control mix. The optimum percentage of steel fibers determined from the TOPSIS method was 0.5% by volume, while the silica fume and latex optimum percentages were 6% and 2.5% of binder mass, respectively.
format Article
id doaj-art-8e7f5f29caa4410c8031c5e480dcc3f6
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-1659
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Developments in the Built Environment
spelling doaj-art-8e7f5f29caa4410c8031c5e480dcc3f62025-08-20T03:42:57ZengElsevierDevelopments in the Built Environment2666-16592025-03-012110059910.1016/j.dibe.2024.100599Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymersAli Mardani0Hatice Gizem Şahin1Yahya Kaya2Naz Mardani3Joseph J. Assaad4Hilal El-Hassan5Department of Civil Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Nilufer-Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Nilufer-Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Civil Engineering, Bursa Uludag University, Nilufer-Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Mathematics Education, Bursa Uludag University, Nilufer-Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Balamand, LebanonDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding author.Recycled fine aggregates (RFA) are often prohibited in new construction applications because of their poor physical properties. This paper assesses the feasibility of incorporating steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers to mitigate the drop in mechanical properties and durability of RFA-modified cementitious matrices. Testing was conducted on concrete-equivalent mortars with 80–100 MPa compressive strength and later validated on corresponding concrete mixtures. Results showed that the mechanical strengths, drying shrinkage, abrasion, and freeze/thaw resistance degraded when the natural sand was replaced by 100% RFA. The use of steel fibers or silica fume was efficient in restoring these properties within ±8% of the control mix. Meanwhile, latex polymers were more efficient in enhancing the permeability and bond properties with steel reinforcement within ±5% of the control mix. The optimum percentage of steel fibers determined from the TOPSIS method was 0.5% by volume, while the silica fume and latex optimum percentages were 6% and 2.5% of binder mass, respectively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165924002801ConcreteMortarRecycled fine aggregateSilica fumeLatex polymerSteel fiber
spellingShingle Ali Mardani
Hatice Gizem Şahin
Yahya Kaya
Naz Mardani
Joseph J. Assaad
Hilal El-Hassan
Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
Developments in the Built Environment
Concrete
Mortar
Recycled fine aggregate
Silica fume
Latex polymer
Steel fiber
title Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
title_full Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
title_fullStr Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
title_short Enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers, silica fume, and latex polymers
title_sort enhancing strength and durability of recycled fine aggregate mixtures using steel fibers silica fume and latex polymers
topic Concrete
Mortar
Recycled fine aggregate
Silica fume
Latex polymer
Steel fiber
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165924002801
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AT yahyakaya enhancingstrengthanddurabilityofrecycledfineaggregatemixturesusingsteelfiberssilicafumeandlatexpolymers
AT nazmardani enhancingstrengthanddurabilityofrecycledfineaggregatemixturesusingsteelfiberssilicafumeandlatexpolymers
AT josephjassaad enhancingstrengthanddurabilityofrecycledfineaggregatemixturesusingsteelfiberssilicafumeandlatexpolymers
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