Abstract
The search for new sustainable building materials is a major focus in civil engineering. Recent research trends include numerous attempts to add glass powder to concrete mixes, but the results of these studies have varied, necessitating further investigation. This research aims to develop a new methodology for studying the effect of glass powder on mortar properties, specifically its strength and workability. The study focuses on the impact of partially replacing cement with ground glass powder on concrete's compressive and flexural strength. Several mixes, with varying percentages of glass powder (5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%), were prepared and compared to a reference sample without glass. Tests were conducted at 7 and 28 days.The results showed a decrease in compressive strength at the 5% and 10% replacement levels due to a reduction in the amount of active cement and the absorption of some mixing water by the glass, which weakened the hydration reactions. At 20%, the strength improved slightly due to the onset of the pozzolanic reaction, but the values remained lower than those of the reference sample. Similarly, flexural strength initially decreased at 5% and then gradually increased at 10% and 20% due to improved internal distribution and the emergence of the pozzolanic reaction of the glass with hydration products.
