Evaluation of the effectiveness of glass waste powder in improving the durability of sand concretes
Department of Hydraulics and Civil Engineering, University of El Oued, 39000 El Oued, Algeria
Department of Structures and Materials, Built Environment Research Laboratory “Tamayouz” (LBE), Faculty of Civil Engineering,
University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), 16111 Algiers, Algeria
Abstract
The accumulation of municipal solid waste, including glass, poses significant environmental challenges worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the effect of waste glass powder (GP), used as a partial cement replacement in sand concrete, on its durability properties. Sand concrete mixtures were prepared by substituting cement with GP at mass proportions of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The durability performance was assessed through accelerated carbonation, total water immersion absorption, capillary water absorption, freeze-thaw cycling, wetting-drying cycling, and resistance to hydrochloric acid attack (5% HCl). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was also conducted on specimens exposed to the acid solution. The results showed that increasing GP content generally increased the carbonation depth; however, the mixture containing 10% GP (SC-GP10%) exhibited the best resistance to accelerated carbonation, with a reduction in carbonation depth of approximately 15.41% compared to the control mix (SC-WGP). Similarly, the 10% GP mix exhibited superior resistance to freeze-thaw and wetting-drying cycles, with reductions in compressive strength loss reaching approximately 9.40% and 40.70%, respectively, relative to the control mix. Nevertheless, the incorporation of waste glass powder in sand concrete increased both total immersion absorption and capillary absorption. SEM observations on acid-exposed specimens revealed progressive surface degradation at the microstructural level, including the formation of micro-cracks and the presence of fine voids across the specimen surfaces, indicating a gradual deterioration of the cementitious matrix under hydrochloric acid attack. These findings indicate that, among the studied proportions, the incorporation of 10% waste glass powder as a partial cement replacement represents the optimal dosage for enhancing the overall durability of sand concrete. This approach not only offers a viable and sustainable solution for improving concrete performance but also contributes to the reduction of solid waste accumulation and the promotion of eco-friendly construction practices.
Keywords
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