Experimental Characterization of Concrete Properties with Partial Replacement of Scrap Ceramic Tiles

Natural resource availability is rapidly decreasing around the globe as a result of increased demand brought on by boosted infrastructure development as well as a rise in the demand for concrete. Concrete plays a crucial part in the advancement of cities all over the Globe which creates harm to the environment. So far, a huge part of scrap ceramic tiles is used in disposal areas. Making use of these ceramic tiles wastes in concrete can somewhat reduce environmental concerns. This study’s primary goal is to experimentally examine the feasibility to use the already utilized ceramic tiles, i.e., scrap pieces from the demolition of residences as an option for coarse aggregate in concrete. The procedure consisted of gathering, cleaning, and shattering scrap ceramic tiles and use as a partial substitute to coarse aggregate in M30 concrete and performing various tests such as the Flexure Test, Compressive Strength test, and Split Tensile Test. Ceramic aggregate was employed as a substitute for natural coarse aggregate in concrete at various weight percentages ranging from 0 to 50%. After analyzing the results, it was found that the ideal estimated value of reclaimed ceramic tile inside around 30% of the concrete mix had a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5. It is indicating improvement in compressive strength and flexural strength of concrete by the age of 7 and 28 days, respectively. In comparison to ordinary concrete, the results demonstrated that using waste from ceramic tile manufacturing as coarse aggregate in concrete increased its compressive strength, tensile strength, and flexural strength to a certain extent and then decreases with an increase in % of scrap ceramic tiles. Additionally, the use of waste from ceramic tile manufacturing as a partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete may help lower waste disposal costs and increase the sustainability of the building sector.