ABSTRACT
The use of recycled materials in construction contributes significantly to the protection of the environment and to the reduction of waste. This work evaluates the effect of a recycled aggregate (construction and demolition waste) and, for comparison, a natural aggregate (gravel 14/20) and a synthetic aggregate (corundum) on the mechanical damage under repeated loading suffered by two nonwoven geotextiles with different masses per unit area. The damage occurred in the geotextiles (in the laboratory mechanical damage tests) was evaluated by visual inspection and by monitoring changes in their short-term tensile and puncture behaviours. Results showed that the recycled aggregate induced lower damage to the geotextiles (lower deterioration of their mechanical properties) than gravel 14/20 or corundum. This way, and in terms of mechanical damage induced to geotextiles, there are good perspectives for the use of the recycled aggregate in civil engineering applications.
