Compressive Strength and Performance Analysis of Green Concrete Using Industrial Waste Materials

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has led to the development of green concrete using industrial and waste by-products. This study presents an experimental investigation on the use of ceramic waste-derived materials such as fly ash, quarry dust, and recycled waste plastic as partial replacements in conventional concrete. The primary objective is to evaluate the mechanical performance and sustainability benefits of green concrete for structural applications. In this work, fly ash was used as a 35% replacement for cement, quarry dust as a 50% replacement for fine aggregate, and waste plastic as a 10% replacement for coarse aggregate in M20 grade concrete. Experimental evaluation included workability (slump test) and compressive strength tests at curing ages of 7, 14, and 28 days. The results indicate that quarry dust concrete achieved the highest compressive strength of 36.44 MPa at 28 days, significantly higher than conventional M20 concrete. Fly ash-based concrete exhibited moderate strength of 24.11 MPa at 28 days, with improved durability characteristics. Waste plastic concrete showed a compressive strength of 26.84 MPa at 28 days, demonstrating acceptable structural performance with reduced weight. The combination of fly ash and quarry dust also showed improved strength compared to control mixes. The study concludes that the incorporation of industrial waste materials in concrete not only enhances certain mechanical properties but also reduces environmental impact, material cost, and dependency on natural resources. Therefore, green concrete can be considered a viable and sustainable alternative to conventional concrete in modern construction practices.