Title: Properties Analysis of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete with Recycled Glass and Limestone Powders

Author(s): D. C. Jaramillo-Murcia, J. Abellán-García, N. Torres-Castellanos, and E. García-Castaño

Publication: Materials Journal

Volume: 119

Issue: 5

Appears on pages(s): 153-164

Keywords: cost-efficient and eco-friendly ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC); durability; limestone powder; mechanical properties; mineral admixtures; recycled glass powder

DOI: 10.14359/51736006

Date: 9/1/2022

Abstract:
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a cement-based material whose superior mechanical and durability features are ascribed to its enhanced microstructure. Nonetheless, large amounts of cement and other expensive components are usually necessary to achieve that particular microstructure, leading to higher costs and carbon footprint than standard concretes. Even though several pieces of research have focused on the employ of mineral admixtures as partial replacement of cement and silica fume while maintaining a compressive strength of over 150 MPa, there is a lack of knowledge on how these additions affect other properties of UHPC. This research paper aims to fill that gap in the Colombian case by analyzing the mechanical properties (compressive strength, modulus of elasticity) and durability (ultrasonic pulse velocity, volume of permeable voids, and chloride ion penetration) of two optimized, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly UHPC dosages containing locally available and low-cost mineral admixtures, encompassing two economically viable milled waste glass powders with an average particle size of 7 and 28 microns, and limestone powder. The results were compared with those obtained for a control mixture, which contained high amounts of cement and silica fume as cementitious materials. The conclusions showed that limestone and recycled glass powders reduce both the high-range water-reducing admixture (HRWRA) and the time of the mixing procedure, leading to a relevant decrease in the production costs. Cost-efficient and eco-friendly UHPCs’ mechanical and durability properties were minor but in the same range as the reference mixture. However, the UHPC dosage incorporating limestone and 28-micron glass powders implied a reduction in cement by 31% and material costs by 32.5% from the reference. In comparison, the dosage in that addition contained 7 microns of glass powder which led to a lessening of 29% in cement and 33.5% in final costs. These outcomes endorsed using limestone and recycled glass powders to develop low-cost and eco-friendly UHPC in Colombia.