Eco-friendly concrete with waste glass powder: A sustainable and circular solution

Abstract

Waste glass is a significant concern in India, and management solutions seek. Finely ground waste glass (GP) presents pozzolanic properties, which make it potential for concrete applications as cement replacement. The main feature of the present work lies in the simultaneous incorporation of two GPs with different fineness, generated from consumer scrap in India, as cement replacement in equal proportions, from 0 to 40 %, in two concrete grades, M30 and M40. An experimental programme was carried out, including fresh, shrinkage, mechanical and durability properties. GP concrete specimens showed compressive strength and a slight improvement for both concrete grades compared to reference concrete specimens (0 % GP incorporation). The durability indicators, namely, water absorption, sorption, chloride-ion penetration and moisture movement in GP concrete, improved with the increase of GP content. The drying shrinkage increased with the rise in GP content; however, the results still fit the permissible standard limits. Optimal concrete mixtures were selected to further study GP incorporation in concrete paver blocks. Four concrete paver block types were produced, including M30 and M40 with no GP (0 %GP) and M30 and M40 with 30 % GP as cement replacement (15 % GP1 + 15 % GP2). The compressive strength of the concrete paver blocks with GP significantly improved. Thus, the concrete with 30 % partial cement replacement by GP is a potential option for the construction industry while providing a management waste solution and contributing to a circular economy.