Use of waste glass in concrete: A review

Abstract

Concrete is widely used construction material in the present industry. The concrete consists of cement, fine aggregates and coarse aggregates. Concrete is strong in compression and weak in tension. Also, the cement manufacturing industry on an average emits 7% of greenhouse gases to earth’s atmosphere which leads to global warming. In order to address these environmental affects extensive research is ongoing into the use of cement replacements, using many waste materials (like waste glass, plastics, fly ash, etc.) and industry’s byproducts. Waste glass is a non- biodegradable material and disposal of waste glass into the land results in the soil pollution. So, to avoid these disposable problems waste glass may be used as partial replacements of coarse and fine aggregates. It’s possible to add glass in the concrete by replacing either of the ingredients partially in a number of forms. Glass may be added in crushed form or in powder form along with the addition of admixtures/plasticizers or without addition of any of the alternate materials in the nominal concrete. Accordingly, a study about various aspects of usage of glass has been made in this paper to include it in concrete as an ingredient so that the best possible usage of glass form may be finalized and same may be used in the concrete with a partial replacement.