Journal of Transportation Infrastructure Engineering

Journal of Transportation Infrastructure Engineering

Laboratory Evaluation and Optimization of Mechanical Performance and Durability of Concrete Pavement Containing Recycled Aggregate Using Fly Ash and Macrosynthetic Fibers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Hamed Mohammadi Sofla Pirkouhi 1
Hamed Enayati 2
Rezvan Babagoli 3
1 MSc. Graduated Student, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, I. R. Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, I, R. Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology of Mazandaran, Behshahr, I. R. Iran.
10.22075/jtie.2026.40890.1757
Abstract
The increasing use of concrete pavements has raised significant environmental, economic, and technical challenges. The high consumption of Portland cement and natural aggregates leads to the destruction of natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions and waste management problems caused by construction wastes. The use of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) as a partial replacement for natural aggregates is considered a sustainable solution, but due to high water absorption (5%-10% higher than natural aggregate), higher porosity and weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ), it reduces the compressive strength of concrete by 10%-20% and weakens its durability against environmental factors. The present study investigated the effect of simultaneous use of recycled concrete aggregates (with 25 and 50 percent replacement levels), Class F fly ash as a cement supplement (with 25 and 50 percent levels), and polypropylene macrosynthetic fibers (with 0.4 and 0.6 percent volume percentages) on the mechanical properties and durability of pavement concrete. Ten mix designs including a control sample were designed and manufactured. Fresh concrete slump tests, compressive strength at 7 and 28 days, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and water absorption were performed on cubic and cylindrical samples. Results showed that RCA replacement alone reduced compressive strength and increased water absorption, but simultaneous addition of fly ash and macrosynthetic fibers significantly compensated for this performance loss. The optimal design combination (T8) (25% RCA + 25% fly ash + 0.4% macrosynthetic fibers) provided the best results; So that the 28-day compressive strength reached 31.48 MPa (8.5% higher than the control sample), tensile strength reached 2.81 MPa, and water absorption reached 1.41%. This combination, by creating a synergistic effect in improving the microstructure of the cement paste, strengthening the interfacial transition zone, and reducing porosity, provides a sustainable, economical, and resistant pavement concrete suitable for Iran's climatic conditions and traffic loading.
Keywords
Pavement concrete
Recycled concrete aggregate
Macro-synthetic fiber
Fly ash
Concrete durability
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 13 April 2026
  • Revise Date 29 April 2026
  • Accept Date 05 May 2026
  • Publish Date 22 May 2026