Incorporation of Recycled Glass-Derived Powders For Manufacturing High- Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Abstract

Concrete, as the most widely used material in the construction industry, plays a crucial role in modern infrastructure. However, its production is a major contributor to environmental challenges, particularly due to the high carbon footprint of cement manufacturing. To address this issue, researchers are exploring sustainable alternatives, including the use of supplementary cementitious materials SCMs to partially replace cement while maintaining or enhancing concrete performance. This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating recycled glass derived powders namely, glass powder and cullet powder as partial cement replacements in high-performance concrete HPC manufacturing. The research evaluates their effects on key properties such as workability, setting time, mechanical strength, and durability, with replacement levels of up to 25%, as suggested from the literature. Preliminary experimental results indicate that while these materials influence fresh and hardened concrete properties, their use remains within acceptable engineering limits. While this approach seems promising to mitigating the environmental impact of cement production is the incorporation of sustainable supplementary cementitious materials to reduce cement consumption, optimizing the dosage is crucial to maintaining desirable properties. The findings of this study highlight the potential of recycled glass as an eco-friendly SCM, contributing to reducing the environmental impact of concrete production while promoting circular economy principles in the construction industry.