Abstract:

The growing emphasis on sustainable construction and life-cycle cost analysis has driven the need to develop durable and cost-effective concrete alternatives. Conventional concrete, while widely used, has significant environmental and economic drawbacks, including high carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from cement production and the increasing scarcity of natural river sand. To address these challenges, this study explores the feasibility of incorporating Brick Powder (BP) and Quarry Dust (QD) as partial replacements for cement and fine aggregates, respectively, in M40-grade concrete. This research evaluates the impact of replacing 10% of cement with Brick Powder (BP) and substituting fine aggregates with Quarry Dust (QD) in varying proportions of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. The study investigates critical mechanical properties such as compressive strength and flexural strength under different mix proportions. The experimental methodology involves casting and testing concrete specimens under controlled conditions to assess their performance in terms of strength, workability, and durability. Results indicate that the incorporation of BP and QD improves the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. The optimal percentage of Quarry Dust replacement enhances the compressive and flexural strength without compromising workability. The increased pozzolanic activity of BP contributes to improved binding properties, resulting in denser and more durable concrete. Additionally, the use of QD as a fine aggregate replacement mitigates issues related to environmental degradation caused by excessive sand mining. A key finding of this research is that concrete mixes containing BP and QD exhibit superior resistance to harsh environmental conditions, including weathering and chemical attacks. These properties make them suitable for sustainable infrastructure development, particularly in regions with limited access to high-quality natural sand and cement. The economic benefits of utilizing industrial by-products such as BP and QD include reduced material costs and lower carbon footprints, aligning with global sustainability goals. This study concludes that incorporating Brick Powder and Quarry Dust in concrete production presents a viable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional concrete. The results demonstrate that sustainable concrete mixtures can achieve desirable strength and durability properties while contributing to resource conservation and environmental protection. Future research can explore the long-term durability performance of these alternative concrete mixes under extreme conditions, optimizing mix designs for large-scale applications in infrastructure projects.

Description:

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