Performance of mortar and concrete with chloride-contaminated recycled concrete aggregates

This PhD research program aims to investigate the feasibility of recycling of chloride – contaminated concrete, such as concrete from marine structures. Chloride – contaminated concrete/mortar will be firstly processed into recycled aggregates.  The physical, mechanical and durability properties of the recycled aggregates will be tested. Then, new cement-based materials (mortar and concrete) will be manufactured with the chloride – contaminated recycled aggregate as a partial or full substitution of natural sand in the mixtures. The influence of the chloride – contaminated recycled aggregate on the fresh and hardened properties (both mechanical and durability aspects) of the mortar and concrete will be thoroughly examined based on laboratory tests. The effect of different factors, such as the chloride content in the recycled aggregates, mix proportion and curing condition will be investigated. Numerical models will also be developed to describe the properties of mortar and concrete incorporating chloride – contaminated recycled aggregates. Finally, recommendations for the practical use of cement-based materials in the practice will be proposed.