This study investigates the beneficial reuse of composite material from wind turbine blades as aggregate in concrete pavement. The thesis is divided into three parts including an experiment, economic analysis, environmental impact study. An economic analysis revealed that the cost to process composite aggregate from wind turbine blades would need to be less than a value of $62.72 per ton of composite aggregate to be financially feasible. The environmental impact study conducted a life cycle analysis (LCA) which favored the practice of recycling the composite aggregate based on a CO2 emission avoidance on 2.3 lb (1.0 kg) per ton of composite aggregate produced.

The experiment included pretests to determine the appropriate size and volume fraction of composite aggregate necessary to maintain a minimum of 4000 psi compressive strength. Following pretest, the full experiment consisted of an ASTM C39 compression test and ASTM C496 split tensile test using a Test Mark CM-4000 SD machine, ASTM C157 shrinkage prism test using CDI LogicTM ALG gage, and a final corrosion test. Samples were cured in two environments of 100% humidity fog room and a calcium hydroxide bath at 160F (70C). These samples were tested at 7, 28, and 90 days. A maximum compression and tensile strength of 6,318 psi (43.6 MPa) and 578 psi (3.1 MPa) was observed in the humidity cured samples which was significantly higher than those stored in the hot bath. For the ASTM C157 test, hot bath samples yielded between 0.27 and 0.33% expansion which was approximately ten times higher than those in the fog experiment. Finally, a weight gain due to water absorption of 1.66% and 0.49% in the composite aggregate and limestone aggregate respectively was seen. In general, this study supports the use of composite material from wind turbine blades as aggregate in concrete.