Leveraging marble powder for enhanced structural performance and mitigation of carbon emission in concrete

The demand for sustainable construction materials has necessitated an impulse to explore and integrate supplementary cementitious materials into the concrete. This shift promotes eco-friendly environment and enhances performance of concrete. One such promising solution is strategic utilization of marble powder, a non-biodegradable by-product of marble industry. The marble powder being rich in calcium carbonate hypothesized to enhance the pozzolanic behavior and improve the filling ability, thereby making it a potential substitute to cement in concrete. In this investigation, the marble powder is partially replaced at varying percentage from 0 to 30% in the place of cement which maximizes the performance while reducing the environmental impact. This attempt addresses two critical challenges: lowering of carbon di oxide emission associated with manufacturing of cement and efficient solid waste management. The key performance of the research is to assess the mechanical and durability properties of concrete at varying percentage of marble powder across different ages of curing. This attempt underscores the technical feasibility and environmental benefits of marble powder as a substitute for cement and paves a way in attaining circular economy by enhancing sustainable construction practice. The transformation of industrial by-product into valuable construction material paves a way towards efficient practices and cost effectiveness. Ultimately, the strategic utilization of marble waste into the concrete steps towards achieving sustainable development goals in the construction sector.