Assessing Strength and Durability: A Performance Evaluation of Jute Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the production of recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a result of concrete fabrication and demolition. This has created the need for proper disposal and designated landfill sites for RCA. However, the construction industry has found a valuable solution by utilizing RCA, which not only helps manage landfill space more efficiently but also reduces transportation distances. This approach has contributed to the development of an environmentally conscious construction environment and has further enhanced the production of eco-friendly concrete, often referred to as green concrete. While recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) offers benefits in terms of waste reduction and sustainability, it does present certain drawbacks when compared to natural aggregate concrete (NAC). One of the main concerns is that RAC tends to have increased porosity, which can adversely affect its strength in compression. RCA typically exhibits lower compressive strength than NAC due to the inherent variability in the properties of the recycled aggregates. Therefore, this study targets to examining and establishing a detailed comparative study on the competence of RCA in the fresh concrete addition to jute fiber by replacing the natural aggregate as coarse/fine fraction upto 100%. However, considering all the test results, utilization of RCA with jute fiber proves to be a better option against conventional fresh concrete in building construction sector.