Title:
Environmental Benefits of Using Glass Powder in Manhole Production
Author(s):
J.-M. Lessard, J. Cloutier, A. Tagnit-Hamou, B. Amor
Publication:
Symposium Paper
Volume:
320
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
19.1-19.14
Keywords:
Concrete, Glass powder, LCA, Life Cycle Assessment, Metakaolin, Supplementary cementitious material, Underground manhole
DOI:
10.14359/51701057
Date:
8/1/2017
Abstract:
Approximately 14,000 underground manholes (UM) are used for the connection and maintenance of the electricity
distribution network in Quebec (Canada). These underground reinforced concrete structures are subjected to an aggressive
environment (moisture, salts, acidity, temperature) leading to premature deterioration of the concrete and
corrosion of the rebar. Replacing 20% of the mass of the ordinary Portland cement (OPC) by glass powder (GP), with
or without 9% of metakaolin (MK) in their concrete mixture is a promising approach to improve their durability while
giving an added value to the mixed glass waste. The environmental benefits of such mixtures have been modelled
using life cycle assessment (LCA). The results show that using 20% of GP in UM production reduces life cycle damage
to human health, ecosystem quality, global warming and non-renewable resource consumption by 37%. An additional
9% of MK lowered these reductions by 44%.