Environmental Aspects of Concrete and Use of Waste Glass

Abstract

In this world Cement Concrete Industry plays major role for using natural resources to the tune of 12.6 billion
tons. As per survey report overall 26 billion tons of aggregate or construction materials waste is generated by
concrete industry. Sand aggregates and naturally available stones are frequently used in infrastructure. The
replacement of natural aggregates by artificial aggregates is demand of enviornmental conditions. The use of
artificial or stone crushed aggregates impacts the quality and durability of concrete. As crushed stone aggregates
are prepared their production has negative impact on nature. They also increase the water content of concrete.
These quarries acting as threat to environment causing many problems.Solution for this problem is to be found.
The problem may be solved by replacing fine aggregate by waste glass in proper proportion. So it will lead to
less consumption of sand. It may also help in reducing the hazardous effects of river dredging. So our
construction materials manufacturing industry may become sustainable. Our aim is to achieve sustainable
concrete industry waste materials that can be used in place of natural available resources like waste plastic,
waste glass, waste rubber etc. There is much scope for reuse of waste glass in constrnction industry in India.
This aspect may decrease the issues like solid waste management and the greening of the environment. In
Concrete pavements, pavers are subjected to varying traffic condition, so microcracks are formed. Due to this
both compressive and flexural strength decreases. In the current work the concrete mixes were prepared by
replacing 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30% of fine aggregate with fine glass aggregate. The assessment of
workability and both compressive and flexural strength characterization was done for glass modified Concrete
mixes. The workability decreased up to 16.6% with 20% fine glass aggregate, but with 25% and 30% of fine
glass aggregate the workability showed an increasing trend. Further the compressive strength and flexural
strength of fine glass aggregate modified mixes showed an increasing trend. The present study will be useful in
providing an alternative for effective re-use of fine waste glass in concrete mixes. It may lead to reduce landfill
waste. Reuse of waste will generate renewable and non-renewable resources. It will also reduce quarrying of
raw materials.