An Analysis of the Deflection Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Using Ceramic Waste Powder Through Finite Element Analysis

This study investigates the effect of incorporating Ceramic Waste Powder (CWP) as a partial replacement for fine aggregates on the deflection behaviour of reinforced concrete beams. Concentrating on a comparative analysis between conventional concrete and a 10% CWP replacement, this research was prompted by initial physical experiments. These preliminary tests, covering 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% replacements, identified the 10% replacement level as yielding the most favourable outcomes in terms of both compressive and split tensile strength. Consequently, the deflection behaviour under incremental loading until failure was examined for beams with 10% CWP, revealing enhanced performance compared to conventional concrete. Subsequent validation through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) supported the experimental results. The study suggests a 10% replacement of CWP as an optimal balance for enhancing deflection performance while maintaining the concrete strength. These findings underscore CWP’s potential as a sustainable material within the construction industry and provide a foundation for advancing sustainable construction methodologies.