Efficient use of ceramic waste powder in Cementitious Grout for the Development of Sustainable Semi-Flexible Pavement Surfaces

Abstract

Cement-based grouts are described as a liquid mixture with higher flowability that contains cement, additives, water, and a superplasticizer. Cement-based grouts can be utilized to fill minor voids and gaps in addition to repairing cracks in earthen structures to restore structural continuity. In most cases, structural grouting is used in conjunction with other strengthening methods like adding tie-rods or reinforcing meshes. Grout is usually used with semi-flexible pavement (SFP). SFP is a new pavement technology comprised of open-graded asphalt concrete with a high air void content that is filled by injecting special grouting materials. The goal of this research is to figure out what happens to the mechanical properties of grout when a proposed by-product is used as a supplement to cementitious materials. The specified grouts were made from cement, water, ceramic waste powder (CWP), and superplasticizer (SP). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the waste material after it had been crushed and finely ground. The pozzolanic behaviour of the material was evaluated by substituting ceramic waste for Portland cement at varying percentages (from 15% to 50%), and the modified grout was characterized through a variety of tests that included flow cone testing, as well as compression and flexural strength tests Based on the results of these tests, the best amount of CWP to use as a replacement for cement in terms of its mechanical properties is 20%.