Use of Waste Glass Powder as Pozzolana in Concrete: An Experimental Investigation on Workability and Strength Characteristics

Abstract

This paper offerings an investigational research on the effects of replacing cement with waste glass powder as a pozzolanic material in concrete. The study examines workability characteristics (slump, compaction factor, and Vee-bee degree) and power assets (compressive, tensile, flexural, and impact power) of material with varying percentages of glass powder replacement (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, and 40%). The waste glass was obtained from local sources, crushed in a cone crusher mill, and sieved through 600-micron sieve. M20 grade concrete with mix proportion 1:1.34:3.2 and water-cement ratio of 0.45 was used. Results indicate that replacing 20% of cement with waste glass powder yields optimal performance, showing approximately 24% rise in compressive power, 30% rise in tensile power, 25% rise in flexural power, and 100% rise in impact power equated to reference material. The study also reveals that workability improves up to 20% replacement before declining. Initial and final setting times increase with higher glass powder content. The findings demonstrate that waste glass powder can effectively serve as a sustainable pozzolanic material in concrete construction, offering both environmental and economic benefits.