Promoting the sustainable construction: A scientometric review on the utilization of waste glass in concrete

Abstract

Concrete is the second-most used material globally and significantly impacts the environment by emitting a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). This scientometric review investigates the sustainable use of waste glass (WG) in concrete. Our study examines the impact of waste glass powder (WGP) on the mechanical and fresh characteristics of concrete and its environmental implications, enhanced by a machine learning prediction model. We observed a progressive increase in research activity on WGP-based concrete since 2000, indicating the growing interest in this area. The primary focus areas are engineering and material science, reflecting the application potential, structural performance, and material properties of WGP-based concrete. Our discussions highlight the significant benefits of WGP in concrete, including its potential to reduce landfill usage, environmental pollution, and enhance properties such as strength, sulfate resistance, alkali–silica reaction resistance, and freeze–thaw resistance. The review also explores the microstructure of glass powder (GP)-based concrete, illuminating the complex interactions between glass particles and the concrete matrix, which influence the material’s overall performance. Environmental impact assessments underscore the necessity for sustainable construction practices and waste reduction. Utilizing machine learning prediction models helps optimize the composition of GP-based concrete, thus enhancing material performance and durability. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of using WG in concrete, contributing to the field’s understanding and informing future research and innovations to optimize WG use in concrete applications.

Keywords

• waste glass
• concrete
• scientometric review
• sustainable construction
• cement replacement
• utilization of glass powder