Improving the early-age behavior of concrete containing coarse recycled aggregate with raw-crushed wind-turbine blade

Abstract

Recycled aggregate used in replacement of coarse natural aggregate can lower the quality of both fresh and hardened concrete properties. There are many methods to reduce the negative effects of recycled aggregate in the literature, although most involve unsustainable solutions that jeopardize any environmental benefits associated with their use. In this study, a novel approach is presented for mitigating the adverse impacts of coarse recycled aggregate used in concrete mixes. Furthermore, it allows solving the current issue of the recycling of wind-turbine blades at the same time. Raw-crushed wind-turbine blade, a waste from the crushing of decommissioned wind-turbine blades with a high proportion of glass fiber-reinforced polymer fibers, was added to concrete mixes containing coarse recycled aggregate. As a main outcome, additions of that waste were found to enhance the early-age properties of concrete containing that kind of aggregate. Plastic shrinkage was reduced, and flexural strength increased by as much as 47 % and 14 %, respectively, while compressive strength remained approximately constant.