CONCRETE BEHAVIOR USING RECYCLED WASTEWATER

Abstract

Concrete is one of the world's most essential and most widely used civil engineering applications, making it the reason to continue the need for development by implementing a more sustainable and less environmentally damaging approach. Water is one of the fundamental pillars in its manufacture and its acquisition of the required mechanical and physical properties through the applicable mixing ratios. So far, tap water is mainly used in this process, whether in the preparation of components, mixing or even after hardening during the curing treatment process. However, this may become a burden in the future due to the continuing increasing scarcity of fresh water, which is only less than 3% of the total water on earth, where regions are suffering due to population growth, climatic changes and poor management of water systems. This paper deals with the use of treated wastewater (recycled water) as an alternative in the concrete industry during the mixing and curing treatment phase by testing the extent of this effect on the mechanical properties of concrete, such as compressive, flexural, and tensile strength from a general perspective. The results show a significant improvement in the compressive strength observed according to the cubes crushing test, reaching 33% after seven days, 70% after 14 days, 56% after 21 days, and the endurance tensile strength test improved by 4% after 28 days.