Resistencia a la compresión del hormigón simple fabricado con agregado grueso reciclado y catalizador agotado de craqueo catalítico fluidizado

Abstract

Today, the construction industry is looking for more efficient, profitable and sustainable practices. This experimental study investigates the fabrication of plain concrete using recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and spent fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst, a byproduct of petroleum refining, to evaluate its compressive strength and viability as a sustainable alternative. This study combined theoretical and experimental approaches. The theoretical phase included an exhaustive review of the literature to establish testing methodologies. In the experimental phase, 45 concrete specimens with a strength of 240 kilograms/square centimeters were manufactured, using 100 percent recycled coarse aggregate (RCG) and different proportions in replacement of fine aggregate with spent fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst.) at 5, 10, and 15 percent. These specimens were subjected to compression resistance tests at the ages of 7, 14 and 28 days in accordance with the NTE INEN-1573 regulations. Finally, the results showed that the replacement of 5, 10, and 15 percent FCC in replacement of fine aggregate, together with 100 percent AGR, did not improve the compressive strength of concrete compared to mixtures without FCC and did not reach the expected design strength for conventional concrete. This suggests that although the use of AGR and FCC can improve certain concrete properties, mixing proportions and methods need to be optimized to meet the required strength standards.