Recycling of Wind Turbine Concrete and Composite Components: Development of Glass Fibre Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete
摘要
The use of recycled materials in concrete production is gaining increasing attention to reduce dependence on natural resources and address the growing volume of industrial and construction waste. This research focuses on the design and technical characterisation of structural concrete incorporating two types of waste materials derived from decommissioned wind turbines: coarse recycled aggregates (RA) sourced from dismantled foundations, and recycled glass fibres obtained from shredded blades. In this context, the individual and combined effects of these recycled components on the mechanical performance of concrete were investigated. Concrete mixes of recycled aggregate replacement (100%) and glass fibre dosages (0% and 3%) were designed and characterised. Particular attention was given to the assessment of compressive strength, indirect tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and residual flexural tensile strengths were analysed. The results indicate that both recycled aggregates and glass fibres can be successfully integrated into structural concrete without compromising the mechanical performance of the resulting concretes. Moreover, certain combinations proved improvements in pre- and residual flexural tensile strength, suggesting a promising interaction between the two recycled components. The outcomes of this study are expected to support the development of technically sound guidelines for the incorporation of wind turbine-derived waste in structural concrete. Furthermore, the findings contribute to a broader understanding of how recycled materials can be effectively integrated into construction practices without compromising both mechanical and durability performances, while maintaining the required structural reliability levels.