Performance Improvement of Recycled Concrete Aggregates and Their Potential Applications in Infrastructure: A Review

In the construction industry, natural aggregates (NA) can be replaced by recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), which can address the issue of construction-waste disposal and resolve the dilemma between demand and supply. This paper aims to systematically review the modification of RCA techniques and their application in producing recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). First, the pretreatment approaches for enhancing the properties of RCA are introduced. Next, the improved efficiency of these approaches and their influences on the workability, mechanical strengths, and permeability of RAC are analyzed and discussed. Subsequently, the effectiveness of different techniques and their cost/environmental impact are compared. Finally, some case studies of the application of RCA in infrastructure are presented, and the remaining challenges and perspectives are discussed. The results of this review work can extend the knowledge of RCA and RAC, as well as serving as a source of inspiration for further studies.