Development of Standard Grade Concrete Using Sustainable Materials

Abstract

Abstract The construction field is constantly looking in innovative and sustainable methods to enhance concrete’s mechanical properties while minimizing the quantity of the impact on the ecosystem due to the manufacturing of cement. This research investigates the usage of Granite Powder (GrP) as a replacement to fine aggregate and Glass Powder (GP) as a replacement to cement. This research is focused on investigating the influence of adding glass and granite powder in concrete on its mechanical properties, workability, and overall performance in addition to reducing the material’s ecological footprint, recycling waste, protecting natural resources, and promoting sustainable waste management techniques. In this experiment, GP serves as a replacement for cement in amounts of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, and GrP served as a replacement for fine aggregate in amounts of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%, to make several concrete compositions. The fresh characteristics of the various concrete mixes were measured by slump cone test, and the mechanical characteristics were assessed by compression, split tensile and flexural strength tests. According to the preliminary findings, adding glass powder and granite powder to concrete mixtures significantly affects the fresh and mechanical properties of concrete. The standard grade concrete mix, which replaced 15% of the cement with glass powder and 30% of the fine aggregate with granite powder, showed the maximum compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength of 52.19 MPa, 4.79 MPa, and 6.85 MPa correspondingly, in contrast to every other combination. In conclusion, the mechanical properties of standard grade concrete was positively affected by the incorporation of GP and GrP. These findings suggest the possibility of employing these alternative materials in the manufacturing of concrete while enhancing its mechanical performance and laying the foundation for future research and practical applications in the construction industry.