Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Concrete Reinforced with Crushed Glass and Glass Fiber: An Experimental Study

Abstract

The incorporation of waste glass and glass fiber, as replacements for fine aggregate and cement respectively, offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate landfilling and virgin aggregate extraction. The present study delves into the influence of these waste derivatives on the mechanical and thermal attributes of concrete. Fine aggregate was substituted by crushed glass shards in a weight-to-weight ratio ranging from 5% to 30%, and cement was replaced by glass fiber in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1%. Mechanical attributes such as compressive, flexural, and splitting strength were evaluated, along with thermal characteristics of the concrete. A concrete mix ratio of 1:2:4 and a water/cement ratio of 0.45 were employed. The results revealed that concrete designated as Mcf20% demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to the reference concrete. After 28 days, compressive strength of 51.2 MPa, flexural strength of 6.5 MPa, and splitting tensile strength of 3.78 MPa were recorded for Mcf20% concrete, signifying the beneficial effects of the combined use of glass fiber and crushed glass. Furthermore, an inverse relationship was observed between the percentage of waste additives and thermal conductivity. This investigation underscores the potential of recycling glass and glass fiber as eco-friendly additives in concrete, improving both mechanical properties and thermal performance, thus endorsing their use in structural and architectural concrete applications.