PURPOSES : This study was performed to determine a systematic approach for measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion (COTE) of concrete specimens. This approach includes the initial calibration of measurement equipment. Test variables include coarse aggregate types such as natural aggregate, job-site produced recycled concrete aggregate, and recycled aggregate processed from an intermediate waste treatment company.
METHODS: First, two cylindrical SUS-304 specimens with a known COTE value of 17.3×10-6m/m/℃. were used as reference specimens for the calibration of each measurement system. The well-known AASHTO TP-60 COTE apparatus for concrete measurement was utilized in this study. Four different measurement apparatuses were used with each LVDT installed and a calibration value was determined using each measurement apparatus.
RESULTS : In the initial experimental stage, calibration values for each measurement apparatus were assumed to be almost identical. However, using the SUS-304 samples as a reference, the calibration values for the four different measurement apparatuses were found to range from 3.49 to 8.86 ×10-6m/m/℃. Using different adjusted values for each measurement apparatuses, COTE values for the three different concrete specimens were obtained. The COTE value of concrete made with natural coarse aggregate was 9.91×10-6m/m/℃, that of job-site produced recycled coarse aggregate was 10.45×10-6m/m/℃, and that of recycled aggregate processed from the intermediate waste treatment company was 10.82×10-6m/m/℃.
CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the COTE value of concrete made from recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) was higher than that of concrete made from natural coarse aggregate. This difference is due to the fact that the total volumetric mortar proportion in the RCA mix is higher than that in the concrete mix made with natural coarse aggregate.