{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T16:47:51Z","timestamp":1772729271810,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]],"date-time":"2026-03-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772409600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Buildings"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a full replacement for fine aggregate in high-performance concrete (HPC). Five mixtures containing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% RCA were experimentally evaluated. Hardened density, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, water absorption, microstructure (SEM), and carbon footprint were analyzed. Results showed a near-linear density reduction of 5.8% at 100% RCA due to lower specific gravity and higher porosity of RCA. Mechanical performance decreased with RCA content: compressive strength reduced from 78 MPa to 53 MPa (\u221232%), splitting tensile strength from 6.2 to 4.2 MPa, and flexural strength from 7.6 to 5.0 MPa. Water absorption increased by 42%, indicating increased permeability. SEM analysis revealed a weakened and porous interfacial transition zone (ITZ) surrounding RCA particles, explaining strength reduction. Carbon footprint analysis showed a slight increase in emissions with RCA due to cement dominance and RCA processing energy. Results confirm that RCA enhances material circularity but introduces a performance\u2013durability trade-off, requiring optimized mix design and SCM integration for structural applications.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings16050973","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T15:29:53Z","timestamp":1772724593000},"page":"973","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Development of High-Performance Eco-Friendly Concrete Incorporating Recycled Fine Aggregates: Mechanical, Microstructural and Carbon Footprint Assessment"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Hadi","family":"Bahmani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord 88186-34141, Iran"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0364-4552","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hasan","family":"Mostafaei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4480-9530","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khosro","family":"Shabani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0134-6762","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulo","family":"Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Coimbra, Department of Civil Engineering, ARISE, ISISE, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"668","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2008.04.007","article-title":"A life-cycle assessment of Portland cement manufacturing: Comparing the traditional process with alternative technologies","volume":"17","author":"Huntzinger","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. 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