Oral Presentation

Mohamed Ouda; Mohamed El-Naggar; Adel Faheim

Transportation Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Large amounts of waste concrete are produced globally due to construction, demolition, earthquakes, and concrete removal. Traditionally, this demolished concrete was sent to landfills for disposal. However, with growing environmental awareness, concrete recycling has emerged as a more sustainable option for its reuse in new construction works. Recycling concrete offers numerous advantages over dumping it in landfills. Firstly, it is more space-efficient, reducing the burden on landfills. Secondly, recycling concrete helps lessen the environmental impact of using natural gravel by promoting the use of recycled materials. Beyond environmental benefits, there are significant economic advantages to concrete recycling. Those responsible for producing concrete debris typically incur recycling charges, reducing the financial burden on local communities. Moreover, our research focuses on finding the best ways to deconstruct and repurpose these materials for coastal protection and nourishment, adhering to environmental laws while preserving ecological balance. In our study, we propose a physical model that incorporates Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) in different percentages (30-60-100%) for the concrete mix used in armor layers of a breakwater. This approach is projected to decrease initial costs by approximately 15-20% and substantially reduce repair expenses over the structure's lifetime. Furthermore, we propose a simple assessment approach for the durability of concrete in the process. By exploring sustainable techniques for reusing concrete waste and considering the technical, financial, and ecological aspects, we strive to contribute to a more environmentally friendly and economically viable approach to coastal protection and construction practices.

Recycled Concrete Aggregate; durability; economic; environment

Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering