Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring

Emeso B. Ojo; John T. Kolawole; Mohamed Ismail; Mark Steadman; Ed Waugh; Russell Elfenbein

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38

Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring

Emeso B. Ojo^*
, John T. Kolawole
, Mohamed Ismail
, Mark Steadman
, Ed Waugh
, Russell Elfenbein

^*Corresponding author for this work

Civil Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Reducing waste in concrete production is crucial for lowering carbon emissions. In the UK, in-situ concrete accounts for about 5% of generated waste, while globally, over 125 million tonnes of fresh concrete is returned to ready-mix plants annually. Conventional disposal and recycling methods pose cost and environmental challenges, making blending returned concrete into new batches a promising circular solution. This case study assesses the feasibility of blending returned fresh concrete at an industrial batch plant, analyzing its impact on key parameters and the role of digital monitoring in deployment. Cement hydration, influenced by ambient conditions and mix composition, determines the workable timeframe for blending. Temperature and maturity-based age tracking are essential in evaluating blending feasibility, especially when incorporating up to 50% returned concrete. Results show that blending up to 25% (≤2 m³ into 8 m³) does not affect compressive strength, eliminating the need for mix adjustments. However, higher blending rates (up to 50%), as per ASTM C1798, require close monitoring due to increased water demand and loss of consistence. Digital truck monitoring, providing real-time data on temperature, batch age, consistence, and volume, ensures blended concrete meets performance standards. Calibration charts and digital monitoring help determine viable time-temperature combinations for successful blending. This approach offers a sustainable, resource-efficient solution to fresh concrete waste, promoting circularity in concrete production.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the RILEM Spring Convention and Conference 2025
Editors	Chiara D'Erme, Christian Paglia, Ester Giner Cordero
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages	378-390
Number of pages	13
Volume	1
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032141668
ISBN (Print)	9783032141651, 9783032141682
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38
Publication status	Published - 13 Jan 2026
Event	RILEM Spring Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Systems in Transportation Infrastructure - Hotel Coronado, Mendrisio, Switzerland Duration: 25 Mar 2025 → 28 Mar 2025 https://www.rilemspring2025.supsi.ch/cms/

Publication series

Name	RILEM Bookseries
Volume	65
ISSN (Print)	2211-0844
ISSN (Electronic)	2211-0852

Conference

Conference	RILEM Spring Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Systems in Transportation Infrastructure
Abbreviated title	RSCC 2025
Country/Territory	Switzerland
City	Mendrisio
Period	25/03/25 → 28/03/25
Internet address	https://www.rilemspring2025.supsi.ch/cms/

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Keywords

digital monitoring
ready-mixed concrete
Returned fresh concrete

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Civil and Structural Engineering
Building and Construction
Mechanics of Materials

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38Licence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

Ojo, E. B., Kolawole, J. T., Ismail, M., Steadman, M., Waugh, E., & Elfenbein, R. (2026). Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring. In C. D'Erme, C. Paglia, & E. G. Cordero (Eds.), Proceedings of the RILEM Spring Convention and Conference 2025 (1 ed., Vol. 1, pp. 378-390). (RILEM Bookseries; Vol. 65). Springer Science and Business Media B.V.. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38

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abstract = "Reducing waste in concrete production is crucial for lowering carbon emissions. In the UK, in-situ concrete accounts for about 5\% of generated waste, while globally, over 125 million tonnes of fresh concrete is returned to ready-mix plants annually. Conventional disposal and recycling methods pose cost and environmental challenges, making blending returned concrete into new batches a promising circular solution. This case study assesses the feasibility of blending returned fresh concrete at an industrial batch plant, analyzing its impact on key parameters and the role of digital monitoring in deployment. Cement hydration, influenced by ambient conditions and mix composition, determines the workable timeframe for blending. Temperature and maturity-based age tracking are essential in evaluating blending feasibility, especially when incorporating up to 50\% returned concrete. Results show that blending up to 25\% (≤2 m3 into 8 m3) does not affect compressive strength, eliminating the need for mix adjustments. However, higher blending rates (up to 50\%), as per ASTM C1798, require close monitoring due to increased water demand and loss of consistence. Digital truck monitoring, providing real-time data on temperature, batch age, consistence, and volume, ensures blended concrete meets performance standards. Calibration charts and digital monitoring help determine viable time-temperature combinations for successful blending. This approach offers a sustainable, resource-efficient solution to fresh concrete waste, promoting circularity in concrete production.",

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Ojo, EB, Kolawole, JT, Ismail, M, Steadman, M, Waugh, E & Elfenbein, R 2026, Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring. in C D'Erme, C Paglia & EG Cordero (eds), Proceedings of the RILEM Spring Convention and Conference 2025. 1 edn, vol. 1, RILEM Bookseries, vol. 65, Springer Science and Business Media B.V., pp. 378-390, RILEM Spring Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Systems in Transportation Infrastructure, Mendrisio, Switzerland, 25/03/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38

Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring. / Ojo, Emeso B.; Kolawole, John T.; Ismail, Mohamed et al.
Proceedings of the RILEM Spring Convention and Conference 2025. ed. / Chiara D'Erme; Christian Paglia; Ester Giner Cordero. Vol. 1 1. ed. Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2026. p. 378-390 (RILEM Bookseries; Vol. 65).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T1 - Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring

AU - Ojo, Emeso B.

AU - Kolawole, John T.

AU - Ismail, Mohamed

AU - Steadman, Mark

AU - Waugh, Ed

AU - Elfenbein, Russell

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

PY - 2026/1/13

Y1 - 2026/1/13

N2 - Reducing waste in concrete production is crucial for lowering carbon emissions. In the UK, in-situ concrete accounts for about 5% of generated waste, while globally, over 125 million tonnes of fresh concrete is returned to ready-mix plants annually. Conventional disposal and recycling methods pose cost and environmental challenges, making blending returned concrete into new batches a promising circular solution. This case study assesses the feasibility of blending returned fresh concrete at an industrial batch plant, analyzing its impact on key parameters and the role of digital monitoring in deployment. Cement hydration, influenced by ambient conditions and mix composition, determines the workable timeframe for blending. Temperature and maturity-based age tracking are essential in evaluating blending feasibility, especially when incorporating up to 50% returned concrete. Results show that blending up to 25% (≤2 m3 into 8 m3) does not affect compressive strength, eliminating the need for mix adjustments. However, higher blending rates (up to 50%), as per ASTM C1798, require close monitoring due to increased water demand and loss of consistence. Digital truck monitoring, providing real-time data on temperature, batch age, consistence, and volume, ensures blended concrete meets performance standards. Calibration charts and digital monitoring help determine viable time-temperature combinations for successful blending. This approach offers a sustainable, resource-efficient solution to fresh concrete waste, promoting circularity in concrete production.

AB - Reducing waste in concrete production is crucial for lowering carbon emissions. In the UK, in-situ concrete accounts for about 5% of generated waste, while globally, over 125 million tonnes of fresh concrete is returned to ready-mix plants annually. Conventional disposal and recycling methods pose cost and environmental challenges, making blending returned concrete into new batches a promising circular solution. This case study assesses the feasibility of blending returned fresh concrete at an industrial batch plant, analyzing its impact on key parameters and the role of digital monitoring in deployment. Cement hydration, influenced by ambient conditions and mix composition, determines the workable timeframe for blending. Temperature and maturity-based age tracking are essential in evaluating blending feasibility, especially when incorporating up to 50% returned concrete. Results show that blending up to 25% (≤2 m3 into 8 m3) does not affect compressive strength, eliminating the need for mix adjustments. However, higher blending rates (up to 50%), as per ASTM C1798, require close monitoring due to increased water demand and loss of consistence. Digital truck monitoring, providing real-time data on temperature, batch age, consistence, and volume, ensures blended concrete meets performance standards. Calibration charts and digital monitoring help determine viable time-temperature combinations for successful blending. This approach offers a sustainable, resource-efficient solution to fresh concrete waste, promoting circularity in concrete production.

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KW - ready-mixed concrete

KW - Returned fresh concrete

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Ojo EB, Kolawole JT, Ismail M, Steadman M, Waugh E, Elfenbein R. Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring. In D'Erme C, Paglia C, Cordero EG, editors, Proceedings of the RILEM Spring Convention and Conference 2025. 1 ed. Vol. 1. Springer Science and Business Media B.V. 2026. p. 378-390. (RILEM Bookseries). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-14166-8_38

Enhancing Returned Fresh Concrete Reusability Through Digital Monitoring

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this