Durability Performance of Sustainable Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Waste Glass

Authors

El-said Abdelsalam Maaty, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, El-Geish Street, Tanta 31527, Gharbia, Egypt.
Mariam Farouk Ghazy, Department of Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, El-Geish Street, Tanta 31527, Gharbia, Egypt.
Mohamed Gamal Eldmarny, Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, El-Geish Street, Tanta 31527, Gharbia, Egypt.Follow

Subject Area

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

The cement and concrete industries contribute significantly to environmental degradation through high CO₂ emissions and extensive resource consumption. Cement manufacturing accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, primarily from limestone calcination, while raw material extraction leads to resource depletion and ecological disruption. Increasing attention is being directed toward the use of recycled glass as an eco-friendly substitute in geopolymer concrete, offering a sustainable solution to existing challenges. This study investigates the effectiveness of replacing fly ash with waste glass powder (WGP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, and substituting natural sand with waste glass sand (WGS) at 0%, 15%, 30%, and 50%. A dual substitution strategy was also examined using 10% replacement for both fly ash and sand. The modified geopolymer concrete was evaluated for workability, compressive strength, water absorption, water permeability, sulfate resistance, and elevated temperature resistance. Microstructural and chemical characterization was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Results showed significant improvements in mechanical properties and durability. At 30% WGP replacement, compressive strength increased by 22% from 37.0 MPa to 45.2 MPa at 28 days, due to enhanced pozzolanic activity. Similarly, 30% WGS improved packing density and workability, resulting in a 29% increase in strength from 35.5 MPa to 45.8 MPa. SEM and EDX analyses confirmed that waste glass incorporation led to a denser and more cohesive matrix, reducing micro voids and enhancing long-term durability indicators such as water resistance, sulfate attack resilience, and thermal stability.

Keywords

Waste Glass; Geopolymer Concrete; Compressive Strength; Durability; Microstructure

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Maaty, El-said Abdelsalam; Ghazy, Mariam Farouk; and Eldmarny, Mohamed Gamal (2025) "Durability Performance of Sustainable Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete Incorporating Waste Glass," Mansoura Engineering Journal: Vol. 50 : Iss. 6 , Article 9.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58491/2735-4202.3327