Effect of ground waste glass addition on the strength and durability of low strength concrete mixes

Abstract

By recycling used glass containers, we are able to recover and reuse their valuable properties, which is a way to preserve the relevant natural resources and lessen environmental burdens. For example, recycled waste glass (in the form of powder) can be used in the production of concrete. This article analyses the effect of waste glass addition on the properties of C12/15, which is used, for example, as concrete bedding material to support road drainage gutters and kerbs. Ground waste glass was used as a filler in the mix, i.e., without decreasing the amount of cement. Brown glass collected as municipal solid waste was used in this research. The research comprised an experiment prepared on the basis of the central composite design. The independent variables included water/cement ratio and the amount of glass powder, expressed as the glass to cement ratio by weight. The adopted research program mainly included the definition of the concrete compressive strength, water absorption and freeze-thaw resistance after 25 and 100 cycles of freezing and thawing. For selected systems, the characteristics of air voids in hardened concrete were also defined. The beneficial effect of ground waste glass added as a filler to the concrete mixture on the strength and durability of concrete was confirmed by the obtained test results.