Abstract:
In this thesis, thorough experimentation was conducted to investigate the effects of using glass waste powder as a secondary cementitious material in self-compacting concrete used in marine environments i.e., concrete that is exposed to seawater. The main goal was to assess the effects of replacement levels of cement with glass powder at 10%, 20%, and 30%. Each percentage was tested in three marine environments: fully submerged, partially submerged, and wetting and drying cycle. Fresh, mechanical, and durability properties of the concrete were tested. The glass powder being used as a cement substitute was obtained from finely grounding waste glass. This addresses the serious waste management and environmental issues faced in Pakistan and worldwide. A significant improvement in the concrete's mechanical and durability characteristics at the 20% replacement level was observed. This outcome was mostly related to the concrete mix's dense microstructure, which at this amount of replacement showed fewer voids and improved particle packing. This microstructure was shown to increase compressive and tensile strengths as well as durability properties. This study adds to the growing data of research on resource conservation, environmental sustainability, and the use of recycled materials in buildings. It creates fresh opportunities for further study into the use of waste glass in other building materials and under other circumstances.
