Green non-load bearing concrete blocks incorporating industrial wastes

• Published in: SN applied sciences Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 266
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Salman, Khitab, Anwar, Mehmood, Khalid, Tayyab, Seemab
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Absorption; Aggregates; Applied and Technical Physics; Cement; Chemistry/Food Science; Compressive strength; Concrete; Concrete blocks; Dry density; Earth Sciences; Engineering; Engineering: Advances in Civil Engineering: Towards a Sustainable Future; Environment; Factories; Hazardous materials; Hydration; Industrial wastes; Landfills; Manufacturing; Marble; Materials Science; Powder; Quartz; Research Article; Sawing; Solid wastes; Waste disposal sites; Waste management; Waste materials; Water absorption; Weight reduction; Pakistan; Marble powder; Concrete hollow blocks; Glass powder; Strength; Light weight
• ISSN: 2523-3963; 2523-3971
• DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-2043-6

In this study, use of glass powder and marble powder as partial replacement of cement in various proportions (5%, 10%, and 15% by weight) in manufacturing of non-load bearing hollow concrete blocks is investigated. The manufactured blocks were evaluated for various characteristics as per ASTM C140/C140M, such as compressive strength, dry density and water absorption. Marble powder is obtained during sawing, cutting, shaping and polishing of marble, and it is normally rendered as solid waste. A huge quantity of discarded glass is dumped in landfills, world over. The mean dry densities of marble powder and glass powder used in this work are 2656.2 kg/m 3 and 2547.4 kg/m 3 , respectively, making them lighter than ordinary cement. The optimum value is found to be 10% replacement of cement (by mass) by the waste materials. It is found that the compressive strength increases by 40% and 18%, dry density decreases by 4% and 5% and water absorption increases by 28% and 36%, if 10% cement is replaced by marble powder and glass powder, respectively. It can be concluded from the results that the non-load bearing hollow concrete blocks with improved compressive strength and light weight can be manufactured by using glass powder and marble powder. Recycling of solid wastes like marble powder and glass powder in concrete is advantageous: It will not only address the waste management issues, but will also result in saving the quantity of cement in concrete, which itself is environmentally hazardous material.