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Rapid method for measuring the water absorption of recycled aggregates

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Abstract

The quality control of aggregates for concrete involves determining their water absorption and apparent density, indicators of the material’s porosity. The standard methods were developed for natural aggregates and are less appropriate for construction and demolition waste recycled aggregates (RAs), which have greater porosity and variability. This paper presents a rapid and accurate method to measure water absorption of RAs, combining 0.5 h vacuum saturation with ~2 h microwave oven drying kinetics. The new method anticipates the results by 43.5 h in comparison of standard ASTM C127, making it appealing for quality control operations. Statistical analysis shows new method gives statistically equivalent results for porous recycled aggregates but it over estimates low porosity natural aggregates. Results of the proposed method are different less than 0.5 % of those obtained by standard methods when testing three RAs with absorptions varying between 5 and 19 %. Operator did not influence the results of the new method. Details of the new experimental procedure and equipment developed are given. Suggestions for further improvement of the new method presented.

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Acknowledgments

Bruno Damineli’s work is supported by FAPESP (grant 2013/03688-3). Marco Quattrone’s work is supported by FAPESP (grant 2012/15195-9). Sergio Angulo’s work is supported by FAPESP (grant 2012/25496-6). The information and views set out in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FAPESP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction Engineering, Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil

    Bruno L. Damineli, Marco Quattrone, Sérgio C. Angulo & Vanderley M. John

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil

    Maria Elena S. Taqueda

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  1. Bruno L. Damineli
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  2. Marco Quattrone
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Correspondence to Bruno L. Damineli or Marco Quattrone.

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Damineli, B.L., Quattrone, M., Angulo, S.C. et al. Rapid method for measuring the water absorption of recycled aggregates. Mater Struct 49, 4069–4084 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0773-5

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