Assessment of Mechanical Properties of Concrete with Substitution of River Sand by Robo Sand and Incorporation of Glass Powder

Abstract

The scarcity of natural resources and the environmental impact of traditional construction materials have led to the exploration of alternative materials in the construction industry. Robo Sand (RB), derived from crushed rocks, and Glass Powder (GP), a byproduct of the glass manufacturing process, are two such alternatives that have gained attention due to their potential to mitigate environmental concerns and improve material properties. This study investigates the mechanical properties of concrete by substituting river sand partially with RB and incorporating varying percentages of GP. The research focuses on a fixed 40% substitution rate of RB while varying the replacement level of river sand with glass powder from 0% to 25% at a constant water/cement ratio of 0.45. The mechanical properties assessed include compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and workability characteristics at the age of 7 and 28 days. The M25 grade of concrete mixtures are meticulously designed and tested to evaluate the impact of GP content on the performance of the concrete matrix. The experimental results show a highest compressive strength of 47.48 MPa and split tensile strength of 2.85 MPa at 15% dosage of GP, and a highest flexural strength of 11.08 MPa at 20% substitution of GP at 28 days. UPVT results indicate that the quality of concrete is enhanced with the improved substitution of GP.