Integrated approach to assess the environmental suitability of red ceramic waste as a supplementary cementitious material in structural concrete

Abstract

This paper advances the state-of-the-art on the suitability of using red ceramic waste in structural concrete as a green technology through an integrated approach coupling mechanical, durability, and environmental performance. Environmental impacts and embodied energy were assessed through the life cycle assessment of structural concrete (C30–C40) produced with 5–40% red ceramic waste considering compatible prescriptive mechanical properties and durability requirements for equivalent service life in a low-risk urban environment. Results show that while mechanical properties are preserved with up to 10% cement replacement, environmental impact reductions require 20–40% cement replacement, where the higher the concrete compressive strength, the higher the relative environmental benefits. For concrete mixtures produced with 40% red ceramic waste, the environmental load of C45, C40, and C35 are compatible and lower than that of plain C30. Due to the increasing amount of superplasticizer required to guarantee concrete workability, the environmental benefits of using red ceramic waste are slightly less evident for human toxicity than for other impact categories. The broad applicability of the proposed approach supports design strategies to improve the environmental suitability of reinforced concrete structures and contribute to effectively implementing sustainable practices in the construction industry.