Technological strategies for recycling concrete block in Iraq

Abstract

Many concrete recycling strategies have emerged and many studies were devoted so as to find the best alternative to recycle concrete waste in order to produce recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) with a quality that competes with natural aggregates which contribute to concrete mixtures and try to establish effective and practical treatment methods in applications of new concrete mixtures, where concrete is considered a building material. Concrete is considered as one of the basic materials in architecture because of its durability and strength and contributes to the worldwide constructional movement and proved its robustness, durability and flexibility in architectural applications as it is considered one of the most widespread material and in the meantime forms a burden impact on the environment at the end of its function in the structures, so it was necessary to employ technological strategies in order to face this dilemma that began to deteriorate our environment. Therefore, the research problem is determined as the need to clarify the concept of concrete recycling and concrete waste recycling in Iraq, due to lack of local knowledge, to produce recycled concrete aggregate, applicable in the fields of architecture and can be used in new concrete mixtures. The aim of this research is to provide knowledge on different methods of recycling concrete from construction and demolition waste (C&DW) and the possibility of reusing its components in new concrete mixes, and to raise a debate about the reality of concrete waste in Iraq and the recycling concrete technology and suggest the most effective technological strategy to solve the Iraqi concrete waste crisis.