Within the dynamic construction landscape, the realization of towering and expansive modern reinforced concrete structures necessitates the utilization of dense reinforcement schemes and intricate geometric configurations. However, traditional concrete encounters difficulties in achieving adequate compaction within intricate molds while preserving its high-performance characteristics. Inadequate compaction frequently results in void formation, detrimentally affecting the mechanical integrity of the concrete. These challenges are adeptly addressed through the adoption of self-compacting concrete (SCC) [1], an innovative concrete variant renowned for its exceptional fluidity and resistance to segregation, empowering it to autonomously spread, fill molds, and encapsulate reinforcement without the need for mechanical consolidation [2, 3]. Furthermore, in stark contrast to conventionally vibrated concrete, SCC facilitates accelerated construction schedules for numerous reinforced concrete undertakings by alleviating concerns related to noise generation and compaction effectiveness [4]. The defining disparities between meticulously formulated SCC and conventional concrete reside in its reduced coarse aggregate content, heightened paste content, lowered water-to-binder ratio, and the strategic inclusion of high-performance superplasticizers [5]. To ensure a homogeneous and cohesive SCC blend, cement dosages commonly range from 450 to 600 kg/m³, surpassing those employed in traditional vibrated concrete [6]. Notably, a proportion of this cement can be substituted with mineral admixtures, including fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume (SF), further enhancing the overall performance and sustainability of the concrete mixture [7].
While SCC boasts numerous advantages, its reliance on substantial cement quantities escalates production costs and CO₂ emissions, adversely impacting the environment [8–11]. China, for instance, annually produces 15 billion tons of natural gravel and sand while generating 2.5 billion tons of construction waste. Additionally, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from concrete production often exceed 5% of global emissions. Thus, enhancing the sustainability of the concrete industry is imperative for preserving the natural environment, reducing waste concrete, and mitigating GHG emissions [12]. Substituting cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like FA, GGBFS, and SF can mitigate environmental pollution and CO₂ emissions [13–15] .
Numerous SCC studies have explored the use of industrial by-products [16–20]. The rheological and mechanical attributes of High-Strength Self-Compacting Concrete (HSSCC) augmented with varying percentages of FA, GGBFS, or a blend of both, ranging from 0–60% of the total binder composition, were thoroughly analyzed by Mohammed et al. [21]. Their observations underscored the preponderance of FA in enhancing HSSCC's workability over alternative admixtures, albeit at the cost of a gradual decrement in its 28-day compressive strength. Furthermore, Kapoor et al. [22] conducted an in-depth study on the durability properties of SCC formulated using recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) as either partial or full substitutes for natural coarse aggregates (NCA), along with selected mineral admixtures as partial replacements for Portland cement. Their conclusions highlighted that a 50% substitution of NCA with RCA, coupled with the incorporation of SF or metakaolin (MK) in conjunction with Portland cement, effectively mitigated durability impairments, with MK demonstrating superior performance over SF. Nevertheless, the complete substitution of NCA with RCA, even with the inclusion of the aforementioned pozzolanic additives, exhibited limited capacity to compensate for durability degradation.
Although SCC contains fewer aggregates compared to conventional vibrated concrete, their inclusion still influences both fresh and hardened properties. It is advocated that coarse RCA, sourced from construction and demolition waste, be utilized as an alternative to NCA, thereby mitigating environmental impacts during the process of concrete construction [23–26]. Integrating recycled coarse aggregates into SCC to produce recycled self-compacting concrete (RCASCC) not only reduces material costs but also addresses environmental concerns associated with waste concrete, yielding substantial economic and social benefits [27]. However, RCA's high porosity, water absorption, and crushing value due to attached mortar and internal microcracks significantly impact RCASCC's mechanical and durability properties [22, 28, 29]. Therefore, pre-treatment methods like coating RCA with slurries, polymer immersion, mechanical removal of attached mortar, and CO₂ reinforcement are employed to enhance RCA quality and, consequently, RCASCC performance [30, 31]. Among these, carbonation treatment utilizes carbonation products to fill cracks and pores in RCA, refining its microstructure and bolstering its physical and mechanical properties [32, 33], all while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
To achieve sustainable development in SCC and foster the large-scale application of waste concrete, numerous researchers have conducted exhaustive investigations into the performance of SCC incorporated with recycled aggregates. Grdić et al. [34] endeavored to prepare SCC using RCA, reporting a marked reduction in SCC's fluidity as the RCA content increased. Panda and Bal [35] analyzed the impact of RCA substitution rates ranging from 0–40% on concrete's mechanical properties, observing a decline in compressive strength across various strength grades with higher RCA substitution rates. Omrane et al. [36] noted that incorporating 20% natural pozzolanic ash as a cement replacement enhanced the chloride ion penetration resistance and sulfate resistance of RCASCC with 100% RCA substitution. Boudali et al. [37] examined the durability of RCASCC under sulfate attack conditions, finding that RCASCC outperformed its reference SCC counterpart. Rajhans et al. [38] demonstrated that the sole addition of FA during mixing could produce concrete with superior properties and reduced creep. Asghar et al. [39] compared the water absorption and porosity of RCA after carbonation treatments at 0.5 MPa for 1 h and 0.1 MPa for 24 h, concluding that increased pressure enhanced carbonation rates.
To mitigate excessive CO2 emissions from SCC production and alleviate the depletion of natural aggregate resources, this study investigates the incorporation of RCA subjected to various replacement levels (15%, 30%, 50%) and carbonation pressures (0, 75 kPa, 150 kPa) into SCC, supplemented with a certain amount of FA and slag to achieve a target strength of C50 for RCASCC. The chloride ion penetration resistance of RCASCC is explored through electrical flux and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. Microstructural insights are provided by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elucidating the individual and combined effects of carbonation treatment and RCA content on RCASCC's mechanical properties and chloride ion penetration resistance. This research aims to provide a valuable reference for the application of RCA in SCC.