Glass Concrete in Civil Engineering: A Review of Recent Developments

Glass concrete (GC) has evolved from a novel idea into a practical component of sustainable construction. Over the last few years, accelerated by the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions and manage waste, researchers and industry professionals have made significant strides in understanding and utilizing waste glass in concrete. This review has discussed about the advantages and disadvantages of GC. In addition, it outlined the key developments including finely ground glass powder has emerged as a promising supplementary cementitious material that can enhance concrete’s durability and mitigate environmental impact, while crushed glass aggregate can be used judiciously in certain applications to conserve natural sand and gravel. We have seen that GC offers clear advantages such diverting waste from landfills, lowering CO۲ footprint, and even improving long-term performance, but it also comes with challenges such as ASR risk and the need for careful quality control. The recent literature, particularly the last five years provides a more nuanced picture of these trade-offs and how to manage them, with optimal particle sizing and replacement levels being crucial.

Keywords:

Civil Engineering , Construction , Glass Concrete , Sustainable Management