Effect of high-volume ceramic waste powder as partial cement replacement on fresh and compressive strength of self-compacting concrete

Numerous regulations have been imposed worldwide by governments and environmental organizations in order to reduce the negative environmental impact resulting from large numbers of solid waste landfills. Recycling of industrial by-products is a step toward sustainable waste management. By utilizing ceramic waste powder (CWP) as a partial cement replacement, the construction industry can play a significant role in energy conservation and limit future generations of CO2. This paper examines the feasibility of producing self-compacting concrete (SCC) mixtures yielding acceptable fresh and hardened concrete characteristics with the inclusion of high-volume CWP as partial replacement of cement. The fresh properties of the new SCC are evaluated through various tests (i.e., slump flow, J-ring, column segregation, V-funnel, and L-box). The investigations show a slight reduction in the slump flow but with an enhancement of the other fresh properties. In addition, the use of CWP slightly reduces compressive strength. It is shown that it is possible to produce SCC with acceptable properties incorporating high-volume CWP.