Environmentally friendly use of rice husk ash and recycled glass waste to produce ultra-high-performance concrete

Abstract

The issue of environmental pollution is one of the most pressing concerns today. A number of measures need to be taken to reduce the effects of waste materials such as rice husks, glass, plastic, and other types of materials on the environment. A significant reduction in environmental pollution can be achieved by utilizing these waste materials in construction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of rice husk ash (RHA) as a pozzolanic material to partially replace cement in a previously optimized mixture of recycled-glass-based Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Furthermore, this study included commercial mineral admixtures such as silica fume and limestone powder along with these components. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the use of RHA in the optimized recycled glass UHPC renders the concrete much less workable and also leads to a marginal decrease in its compressive strength (by about 7%). Additionally, the study demonstrates a significant interaction between RHA and water content, attributed to the water-absorbing capacity of RHA particles, which also provides an internal curing effect. Ultimately, incorporating RHA as a partial replacement for cement in the optimized recycled-glass-based UHPC enables a substantial decrease in the concrete's carbon footprint, without causing significant harm to its performance, thereby promoting an environmentally friendly approach to concrete production.