Fire Performance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete: Experimental Assessment of Compressive Strength and Physical Deterioration at Elevated Temperatures

Concrete remains one of the most widely utilized construction materials, valued particularly for its exceptional compressive strength. However, exposure to fire can compromise both its internal microstructure and external integrity. This research investigates the behavior of concrete manufactured with recycled concrete coarse aggregate (RCA) derived from construction waste, aiming to establish experimental evidence of fire’s impact on compressive strength. We employed the Optimal Density Method to design mix proportions targeting 24 MPa compressive strength. The experimental program comprised 45 cylindrical samples distributed across three replacement levels: 0%, 15%, and 30% natural aggregate substitution with RCA. Following 28 days of curing, samples underwent direct fire exposure in a melting furnace. Temperature progression was monitored using a pyrometer, ranging from ambient (0 °C) through 250 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C, to 800 °C, with controlled exposure duration at each level. Three samples were tested at each temperature. After fire exposure, samples were cooled for 24 h at ambient temperature before compression testing. The densities of the fresh specimens were determined to be 2254.06 kg/m3 for HS-0AR%, 2210.09 kg/m3 for HS-15AR%, and 2180.85 kg/m3 for HS-30AR%, with a percentage density variation with respect to HS-0AR% of 1.95% and 3.25%, respectively. Finally, in relation to the compressive strength of concrete, a reduction of 4.34% was observed for 15% AGR and 5.72% for 30%, suggesting that the variations may be due to factors such as the water/cement ratio, the quality of the aggregate, and the curing conditions of concrete. In addition, several pathologies were observed, such as cracking, fissures, color changes, and spalling.