Mechanical and Environmental Performances of Concrete Using Recycled Materials

Modern society creates large quantities of waste which represent a major environmental problem. Responsible management of waste is an essential aspect of sustainable development. In this context, practices have identified the reduction, recycling, and reuse of wastes as being essential. Concrete will be always the most familiar construction material, consisting in gravel, sand and cement. Some recycled materials, in different dosages were used in the concrete composition. The paper presents the influence of using recycled materials (chopped PET and sawdust) on the mechanical properties and environmental performances of concrete. Recycled materials had replaced fine aggregates in different dosages and the new composite materials were experimentally tested for determining mechanical characteristics. The embodied energy and global warming potential were evaluated for all experimented mixtures. New types of concrete are obtained, having an important contribution to the development of green building materials with positive effects concerning the environment protection.