The reuse of crushed aggregates for producing structural concrete is a major concern especially when it comes to its strength and durability. This study evaluated recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) for its strength and durability under simulated environmental degradation in the form of wetting-drying (W-D) cycles. The study consisted of two phases, each involving the determination of the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity using the conventional method and also a nondestructive ultrasonic pulse velocity method (Pundit Lab). Phase 1 involved 7-day curing followed by 30 W-D cycles, while Phase 2 included 28-day cured samples subjected to 15 W-D cycles. It was found that RAC specimens subjected to W-D cycles had minimal degradation in strength, making the use of RAC in construction very promising. Results from Pundit Lab compared reasonably well with conventional test results, showing promise as a nondestructive tool for the evaluation of RAC properties. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A maioria dos processos de fabricação de um produto geram resíduos. Quando não se dispõem de uma tecnologia para o seu reaproveitamento, certamente este material será depositado na natureza e poderá ocasionar inúmeros problemas ambientais. Este trabalho trata da reutilização dos resíduos de concreto como agregado, para dosagens de concreto estrutural. Na maioria das vezes, os agregados provenientes de resíduos são considerados materiais de baixa qualidade, isso ocorre pelo desconhecimento de suas propriedades e da tecnologia para seu emprego. Fazendo uma pesquisa bibliográfica, teórica e experimental, o objetivo deste estudo foi de uma maneira informativa, contribuir para o entendimento do material, caracterizando algumas propriedades do agregado e do concreto reciclado. / Most of making process of a product produces residue. When there isn\'t a technology to use it again, certainly this material will be deposited in nature and it can bring about countless environmental problems. This work presents the reuse of concrete residues as aggregate, for dosage of structural concrete. Most of times, the aggregates provenient from the residues are considered low quality materials, it occurs due to the lack of knowledge of its properties and technology for its use. Doing a bibliographical, theorical and experimental research, the objective of this study was, on an informative way, to contribute for understanding of the material, characterizing some properties of aggregate and the recycled concrete.

A maioria dos processos de fabricação de um produto geram resíduos. Quando não se dispõem de uma tecnologia para o seu reaproveitamento, certamente este material será depositado na natureza e poderá ocasionar inúmeros problemas ambientais. Este trabalho trata da reutilização dos resíduos de concreto como agregado, para dosagens de concreto estrutural. Na maioria das vezes, os agregados provenientes de resíduos são considerados materiais de baixa qualidade, isso ocorre pelo desconhecimento de suas propriedades e da tecnologia para seu emprego. Fazendo uma pesquisa bibliográfica, teórica e experimental, o objetivo deste estudo foi de uma maneira informativa, contribuir para o entendimento do material, caracterizando algumas propriedades do agregado e do concreto reciclado. / Most of making process of a product produces residue. When there isn\'t a technology to use it again, certainly this material will be deposited in nature and it can bring about countless environmental problems. This work presents the reuse of concrete residues as aggregate, for dosage of structural concrete. Most of times, the aggregates provenient from the residues are considered low quality materials, it occurs due to the lack of knowledge of its properties and technology for its use. Doing a bibliographical, theorical and experimental research, the objective of this study was, on an informative way, to contribute for understanding of the material, characterizing some properties of aggregate and the recycled concrete.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) uses approximately 11,000,000 tons of aggregate per year for transportation projects. Being able to select durable aggregates for use in transportation projects is of considerable importance, if the aggregate deteriorates then the constructed facility requires premature repair, rehabilitation or replacement. Realizing the importance and also that deficiencies in the current WisDOT testing protocol may exist, it has been concluded that the durability-testing program for Wisconsin aggregates needs to be updated. For example, WisDOT is currently using the Sodium Sulfate Soundness Test (ASTM C 88) to measure durability, a test that was put in place in 1960. The ability of this test to predict durability performance and simulate field conditions is questionable and it has also been criticized for its lack of precision. It should also be noted that the use of recycled and reclaimed aggregates has increased in recent years and not all typical durability tests can be used for testing these aggregates. The Sulfate Test in particular cannot be used for testing Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) because the chemical reaction produces erroneous and misleading results. This project has identified recent advances in the understanding and testing of aggregate durability. An in depth literature review has been conducted and from the compiled information a laboratory testing program was developed. Selection of the tests was based upon the tests' precision, efficiency, and predictive capabilities. In the laboratory-testing phase of this project the proposed durability tests along with current WisDOT durability tests were used to evaluate the full range of Wisconsin aggregates. From the test results it was found that the WisDOT aggregate testing protocol could be reduced substantially by eliminating many of the testing requirements for aggregates that have a vacuum saturated absorption of less than 2%. Also, the addition of several tests was ruled out due to their lack of correlation with field performance records. The Micro-Deval abrasion test is recommended for inclusion in WisDOT testing protocol as a test to measure the abrasion resistance of aggregate while the L.A. Abrasion test is better suited as a measure of aggregate strength. Additional conclusions were made based on the durability testing conducted and an overall testing protocol has been developed and is recommended for implementation by WisDOT. / Master of Science

Characterization of the effect of physical properties on the performance such as stiffness and drainage of unbound granular materials is necessary in order to incorporate them in pavement design. The stiffness, deformation and permeability behaviour of unbound granular materials are the essential design inputs for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide as well as empirical design methods. The performance based specifications are aimed to design, and construct a durable and cost effective material throughout the design life of a pavement. However, the specification varies among jurisdiction depending on the historical or current practice, locally available materials, landform, climate and drainage. A literature review on the current unbound granular materials virgin and recycled concrete aggregate base construction specification has been carried out in this study. Resilient modulus, permanent deformation and permeability tests have been carried out on seven gradations of materials from locally available sources. Resilient modulus stiffness of unbound granular material at two different conditioning stress level have been compared in the study. The long term deformation behaviour has also been characterized from results of the permanent deformation test using shakedown approach, dissipated energy approach and a simplified approach. The results show improvement in resilient modulus and permanent deformation for the proposed specification compared to the currently used materials as a results of reduced fines content, increased crush count and inclusion of larger maximum aggregate size into the gradation. A significant effect of particle packing on permeability of granular materials have also been found, in addition to the effect of fines. / October 2016

Esta dissertação teve por objetivo iniciar investigações sobre os efeitos do uso de agregados reciclados contaminados por baixos teores de gesso de construção, em argamassas de assentamento de alvenarias. Na presença de umidade e por ação de minerais do gesso ou de outros mais complexos, que sejam formados, há riscos de fissuras, eflorescências e de deterioração progressiva dessas paredes. Um programa experimental foi realizado para a avaliação acelerada desses processos, por medidas de propriedades químicas, físicas e mecânicas de vinte argamassas. Materiais regionais usados em alvenarias e concreto na cidade de Socorro-SP foram escolhidos, pois lá existe uma usina de reciclagem, que produz areia reciclada para essas argamassas e com elevado teor de finos. Quatro agregados reciclados de granulometria muito fina e similar entre si foram artificialmente produzidos, por processos controlados de construção e demolição. Assim, estudou-se um agregado reciclado não contaminado (A1 com SO3 igual a 0,2 %) e outros três idênticos, com previsão de contaminação progressiva (A2, A3 e A4 , mas que resultaram com teor de SO3 total da ordem de 0,5 % a 0,6 %). Quatro grupos de argamassas foram produzidos com variação do consumo de cimento (200, 150 e 100 kg/m3), tipo de cimento (CP II e CP III) e ainda com e sem o uso de cal hidratada tipo CH III (teor elevado de carbonatos). O consumo de agregado reciclado anidro nas argamassas variou entre 1300 e 1200 kg/m3. Em cada grupo, foi ainda produzida uma argamassa mista, com areia muito pura e quartzosa, de granulometria e dosagem mais próximas às de argamassas normalizadas para alvenarias. A metodologia do programa baseou-se no envelhecimento acelerado das argamassas, a partir de 63 dias de idade e por ciclos de 7 dias em câmara úmida, alternados por 7 dias em estufa ventilada a 40 oC. Essa ciclagem foi adotada após criterioso levantamento bibliográfico e visando-se um processo holístico de deterioração preconizado por Collepardi (2003), inclusive para agregados reciclados contaminados por sulfatos. A partir de 63 dias de idade, foram então caracterizadas regularmente as seguintes propriedades das argamassas: resistência à tração na flexão, resistência à compressão, módulos de elasticidade estático e dinâmico. Durante a ciclagem, foram realizados ensaios complementares de termogravimetria e análise química quantitativa de sulfatos solúveis e de sais solúveis totais nas argamassas. Um conjunto de corpos-de-prova das argamassas permaneceu em câmara seca e foi também ensaiado a 175 dias, inclusive quanto à suscetibilidade a eflorescência. Entre 63 e 175 dias, foram realizados 8 ciclos de envelhecimento e conclui-se que a principal propriedade mecânica afetada durante a ciclagem foi a resistência à tração na flexão das argamassas e isto ocorreu a partir de 91 dias, nos quatro grupos de argamassas com agregado reciclado, sendo que entre 63 e 91 dias se quantificou uma evolução significativa de carbonatação pela termogravimetria. Os grupos de argamassas mistas com cimento e cal hidratada mostraram melhor desempenho neste estudo do que as argamassas simples de cimento e areia reciclada fina, inclusive quanto à eflorescência. Os resultados obtidos são restritos ao estudo de caso, mas permitem concluir que a contaminação de agregados reciclados para argamassas, por baixos teores de gesso de construção já foi suficiente para produzir alterações significativas no desempenho mecânico das argamassas e nos seus níveis de sulfatos solúveis, que foram alterados de forma coerente com a ciclagem e sendo possível a sua interpretação com base em teorias mais recentes de especialistas no tema. Por fim, o trabalho confirmou ser recomendável um limite máximo de sulfatos solúveis na faixa entre 0,1 % e 0,2 %, sobre a massa de agregados reciclados para argamassas. Estes níveis são preconizados por instituição alemã especializada em durabilidade de alvenarias. Concluiu-se que também pode ser adotado o critério da DIN 4226-100 (< 600 mg/L de SO4), compatível com a faixa citada. / This is an abstract of a Master of Science project carried out at EPUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, aimed at investigating the effects of the use of recycled aggregates contaminated by small contents of gypsum plaster on masonry mortars. In the presence of moisture and by the action of gypsum minerals or other more complex ones that may occur, there is the risk of the formation of cracks, efflorescence, and progressive deterioration of the masonry walls. An experimental program was thus developed for the rapid assessment of these processes by assessing the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of twenty mortar mixes. Local materials used for masonry and concrete in Socorro-SP, Brazil, were selected, as in that location there exists a recycling unit producing recycled sand for mortars with a high content of fines. Four recycled aggregates of very fine grain size and similar to each other were artificially produced by controlled construction, demolition and recycling processes. Thus a recycled, non-contaminated aggregate (A1, with SO3 content equal to 0,2 %) and three other identical ones were studied, with expected progressive contamination (A2, A3 and A4, that result with a total SO3 content about 0,5 % to 0,6 %). Four groups of mortars were thus produced with varying cement content (200, 150 and 100 kg/m3), cement type (Brazilian CP II and CP III) and also with and without the use of a comercial hydrated lime, Brazilian type CH III (of a high carbonate filler content). The anhydrous recycled aggregate content in the mortars varied between 1300 and 1200 kg/m3. In each group a blended mortar was also produced, containing very pure quartzous sand, of grain size and mix proportions closer to standard masonry mortars. The approach followed in the experimental program was accelerated aging test of mortars, starting at 63 days of age and at 7 day cycles in the wet chamber, alternated by 7 days in the ventilated oven at 40 oC. This cycling was adopted after critical bibliographical research and under a holistic process of deterioration set up by Collepardi (2003), also for gypsum-contaminated aggregates. From 63 days of age, the following properties were regularly characterized for the mortars: flexural modulus (tensile strength in bending), compressive strength, and static and dynamic elasticity modulus. During cycling, complementary tests were done of thermogravimetrical analysis and quantitative chemical analysis of total soluble sulphate in mortars. A number of the mortar test specimens was left in the dry chamber and tested at 175 days, including tendency to efflorescence. In between 63 and 175 days, 8 weathering cycles were done, and it was concluded that the main mechanical property affected during cycling was tensile strength in bending (indirect tensile strength) of mortars, and this occurred from 91 days, in the four groups of mortars containing recycled aggregates, and in between 63 and 91 days a significant evolution was measured of carbonation by thermogravimetry. The groups of mixed mortars with cement and hydrated lime showed better performance in this study than the plain cement and fine sand mortars, also as regards efflorescence. The results here obtained are to be seen as restricted to this case study, yet they allow us to conclude that the use of recycled aggregates containing even low levels of gypsum plaster as impurity in the production of mortars was sufficient to produce significant alterations in the mechanical performance, as well as the degree of soluble sulphate of mortars, that got altered in a way coherent with the cycling process, and it is possible to interpret this based on more recent theories by experts in the subject. Last, this work confirmed that it is advisable to look for a maximum soluble sulphate limit ranging from 0,1 % to 0,2 % by weight of recycled aggregates for mortars. Such levels was set up by a German institution specializing in masonry durability. It was also concluded that the requirements of DIN 4226-100 (< 600 mg/L of SO4) can be used as appropriate in the range mentioned.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-20T13:42:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafael Jansen Mikami.pdf: 3198153 bytes, checksum: 6a277457317456e313f7f86a96cd4474 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-31 / The use of recycled aggregates for producing concrete has been studied as a way to reuse construction waste. However, these aggregates may contain contaminants that may cause the leaching of pollutants, especially in open places, such as floors and sidewalks. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the releasing of sulfates and heavy metals in the water by leaching of pervious concrete made of recycled aggregates. Six types of aggregates were produced with uniform granulometric distribution. One of the aggregates was conventional aggregate and the other ones were recycled aggregates. For each type of aggregate, containing different ceramic contents, concrete specimens were made. To perform the leaching test, pervious concrete specimens were immersed in ultrapure water, which was renewed after 24, 48, 168 and 384 h from the start of the test. The leached water was analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids, sulfates and potentially toxic elements (Cr, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu). It was verified that all concretes produced had a permeability coefficient above the minimum recommended value for use as a pervious pavement, of 0,10 cm.s-1. However, the maximum compressive strength obtained was 10,15 MPa, not reaching the minimum for use in pavements (20 MPa). The incorporation of ceramic material in the aggregate resulted in an increase in water absorption. The leaching tests showed that the pH of the concrete leachate remained alkaline, reaching an overall average value of 11,5. The electrical conductivity throughout the experiment increased, demonstrating that the concrete continued to release ions over the 16 day period. The mean sulfate concentration in the leachate varied between 21,3 and 71,7 mg.L-1 after 24 h of the test, gradually reducing until the last sampling, in which the concentration was between 2,4 and 21,6 mg.L-1. No direct relationship between the sulfate concentration and the ceramic content in the aggregate was observed. However, it was visually verified that a specimen was contaminated with gypsum, implying a sulfate concentration five times higher than the other samples of the same treatment, increasing the mean of the treatment. Significant quantities of chromium were detected in the leachate, mainly of the concrete made with 100% ceramic aggregate, which released 0,083 mg.L-1 of chromium. In all treatments, cadmium concentrations in the leachate were between 0,009 and 0,113 mg.L-1, exceeding the maximum limit of 0,005 mg.L-1, established by Brazilian Standard (NBR) 10004:2004. / O uso de agregados reciclados na confecção de concretos tem sido estudado como uma forma de reutilizar os resíduos da construção civil. Entretanto, esses agregados podem conter contaminantes, havendo o risco da lixiviação de poluentes, principalmente em locais expostos ao ambiente, como pisos e calçadas. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a liberação de sulfatos e metais pesados na água pela lixiviação de concreto permeável confeccionado com agregados graúdos reciclados. Seis tipos de agregados foram produzidos com distribuição granulométrica uniforme, sendo um agregado convencional e os demais agregados reciclados. Para cada tipo de agregado, contendo diferentes teores de cerâmica, foram confeccionados corpos de prova de concreto. Para a realização do teste de lixiviação, corpos de prova de concreto permeável foram imersos em água ultrapura, sendo esta renovada após 24, 48, 168 e 384 h do início do ensaio. A água lixiviada foi analisada quanto ao pH, condutividade elétrica, alcalinidade, a demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos totais, sulfatos e elementos potencialmente tóxicos (Cr, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu). Verificou-se que todos os concretos produzidos apresentaram coeficiente de permeabilidade acima do valor mínimo recomendado para uso como pavimento permeável, de 0,10 cm.s-1. No entanto, a resistência à compressão máxima obtida foi de 10,15 MPa, não atingindo o mínimo para utilização em pavimentos (20 MPa). A incorporação de material cerâmico no agregado resultou em um crescente aumento na absorção de água. Os testes de lixiviação demonstraram que o pH do lixiviado de concreto se manteve alcalino, atingindo um valor médio geral de 11,5. A condutividade elétrica ao longo do experimento aumentou, demonstrando que o concreto continuou a liberar íons ao longo do período de 16 dias. A concentração média de sulfato no lixiviado variou entre 21,3 e 71,7 mg.L-1 após 24 h de ensaio, reduzindo gradualmente até a última coleta, na qual a concentração se situou entre 2,4 e 21,6 mg.L-1. Não foi constatada relação direta entre a concentração de sulfato e o teor de material cerâmico no agregado. No entanto, verificou-se visualmente que um corpo de prova estava contaminado com gesso, o que implicou em uma concentração de sulfato cinco vezes superior às demais amostras do mesmo tratamento, elevando a média do tratamento. Foram detectadas quantidades significativas de cromo no lixiviado, principalmente do concreto confeccionado com agregado 100% cerâmico, que liberou 0,083 mg.L-1 de cromo. Em todos os tratamentos verificaram-se concentrações de cádmio no lixiviado entre 0,009 e 0,113 mg.L-1, ultrapassando o limite máximo de 0,005 mg.L-1, estabelecido pela Norma Brasileira (NBR) 10004:2004.

Os resíduos de construção e demolição (RCD) são gerados em quantidades expressivas nas cidades de grande e médio portes no Brasil e são comumente descartados de forma irregular. Para os milhares de quilômetros de vias urbanas não pavimentadas, o agregado reciclado de resíduo sólido da construção civil é uma alternativa aos materiais convencionais de pavimentação. Esta dissertação analisa o comportamento mecânico do agregado reciclado para emprego em camadas de base e sub-base. A pesquisa consiste em ensaios laboratoriais, acompanhados de um estudo de caso - o pavimento do novo campus da Universidade de São Paulo (USP Leste). Um trecho de 1.020 metros de extensão foi utilizado no estudo, de um total de aproximadamente dois quilômetros de vias pavimentadas no campus. O pavimento avaliado possui agregado reciclado em sua estrutura; quatro seções-tipo diferentes foram construídas, variando os materiais, as espessuras, a compactação e o subleito. Propriedades físicas e mecânicas do agregado reciclado foram determinadas em laboratório por meio dos seguintes testes: composição, porcentagem de materiais indesejáveis, massa específica, absorção de água, graduação, forma dos grãos, compactação, influência da compactação, índice de suporte Califórnia, módulo de resiliência e deformação permanente. Os ensaios de campo compreenderam: controle de materiais e de execução, resistência à penetração pelo Dynamic Cone Penetrometer e levantamento deflectométrico com o Falling Weight Deflectometer. Baseado na análise das bacias de deflexão das seções-tipo construídas, o trecho estudado é dividido em quatro comportamentos distintos à deformação. Os resultados mostraram que o comportamento mecânico do agregado reciclado apresenta uma forte dependência da eficiência da compactação. Quando submetido a uma compactação adequada, o material reciclado comporta-se tal qual uma brita graduada simples. / Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is generated in significant amounts in medium and large size cities in Brazil and are usually disposed of illegally. For the thousands of kilometers of unpaved urban roads, the recycled aggregate of CDW is an alternative to conventional paving materials. This dissertation analyses the mechanical behavior of the recycled aggregate for use in base and subbase layers. This research consisted of a series of laboratory tests, followed by a case study - the pavement of the new campus of the University of Sao Paulo (USP Leste). A test track of 1,020 meters of extension was used for the study, from a total of approximately two kilometers of paved roads in the campus. The pavement studied contains recycled aggregate in its structure; four different road sections were constructed, varying the materials, thickness, compaction and subgrade. Physical and mechanical properties of the recycled aggregate were characterized through the following laboratory tests: composition, percentage of impurities, bulk density, water absorption, gradation, grain form, compaction, compaction influence, California Bearing Ratio, resilient modulus and permanent deformation. The field tests covered: materials and construction control, bearing capacity using the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and deflection measurement using a Falling Weight Deflectometer. Based on the analysis of the deflection basins of the built road sections, the test track is divided according to four different deformation behaviors. The results show that the mechanical behavior of the recycled aggregate presents a strong dependence on the compaction effort. When submitted to proper compaction, the recycled material behaves as a crushed-stone.

Os resíduos de concreto apresentam grande potencial para serem reciclados quando comparados com outros resíduos, entretanto, o número de estudos realizados no Brasil é muito pequeno dificultando a utilização deste material em dosagens estruturais. Em virtude disso, desenvolveu-se um estudo teórico-experimental visando caracterizar algumas propriedades do agregado e do concreto reciclado; no estudo teórico exploraram-se aspectos relacionados à geração, deposição, processos para recuperação, britagem, casos práticos, pesquisas envolvendo reciclados de concreto e as recomendações normativas existentes. No desenvolvimento experimental, analisou-se a influência do período decorrido entre a moldagem e a reciclagem do concreto nas propriedades dos agregados e concretos. Os resultados indicam que resíduos reciclados logo após sua geração, contribuem positivamente para as propriedades mecânicas do concreto, devido à existência de grande quantidade de partículas não-hidratadas de cimento, tais concretos obtiveram resultados superiores para a resistência à compressão e tração quando comparados aos concretos com agregados naturais. / The concrete residues show a large potential to be recycled when compared with other residues; however, the number of studies in Brazil is very small hindering the use of this material in structural dosage. By virtue of that, it was developed a theoretical-experimental study to characterize some properties of aggregate and recycled concrete; in the theoretical study it was explored aspects related to the generation, deposition, processes for recovery, crushing, practical cases, researches involving recycled of concrete and the existent normative recommendations. In the experimental development, it was analyzed the influence of the period elapsed between the molding and the recycling of the concrete in the properties of the aggregates and concretes. The results indicate that residues recycled soon after generation, these contribute positively to the mechanical properties of the concrete due to the existence of large amount of nonhydrated cement particles, such concretes obtained results superiors for the compression strenght and tensile strenght when compared to the concretes with natural aggregates.

Ce travail de thèse combine des approches expérimentales et théoriques visant à caractériser les propriétés mécaniques et de durabilité des bétons à base de granulats recyclés. La première partie est consacrée à la quantification de l'effet des granulats recyclés sur les propriétés mécaniques et de durabilité de ces bétons. Les résultats montrent que les propriétés mécaniques et de durabilité des bétons à base de granulats recyclés sont sensibles non seulement aux propriétés physiques des granulats recyclés mais aussi à leur quantité au sein de la microstructure. Par ailleurs, une caractérisation des propriétés mécaniques locales grâce aux essais de nano indentation et micro indentation a aussi été entreprise; ce qui a permis d'avoir accès aux propriétés mécaniques des phases telles que les zones d'interface ou encore l'ancien mortier. La deuxième partie est une approche consacrée à l'établissement des modèles multi-échelles en mesure de rendre compte des propriétés macroscopiques (mécanique et de diffusion) des bétons à base de granulats de démolition en tirant profit des informations recueillies sur la microstructure (observation au microscope, nano et micro indentation,...). Une prise en compte du caractère complexe des granulats recyclés a aussi été abordée dans ce développement théorique. Enfin, une comparaison des résultats des modèles avec ceux expérimentaux est présentée puis discutée dans ce travail / This thesis combines experimental and theoretical approaches to characterize the mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concretes (RAC). The first part of the work is devoted to the quantification of the impact of recycled concrete aggregates on the mechanical and durability properties of RAC. The results show that mechanical and durability properties of recycled aggregate concretes depend not only on the physical properties of recycled concrete aggregates but also on their quantity in the microstructure. Furthermore, statistical indentation technique is used to capture the local mechanical properties of phases in the microstructure of RAC such as the interfacial transition zones and the attached mortar. The second part of this study deals with the multi-scale modeling of the mechanical and the durability properties of RAC. The main purpose of this theoretical work is to establish models capable to predict the macroscopic behaviour based on the available information on the microstructure (obtained by optical microscopy or through indentation technique). The established models take into account the complex structure of the recycled concrete aggregates. Finally, the results of the models are compared with experimental data for discussion