Influence of Glass Granular Class on the Compressive Strength of Glass-Sand Mortar

This study examines the effect of glass particle size and color on the compressive strength of mortars made from glass, sand, and cement. A range of water-to-cement (W/C) ratios was applied, and tests were conducted to measure density and compressive strength at both 2 and 7 days. The glass, available in green, brown, and white, was introduced as both fine and coarse particles. The findings reveal that incorporating glass significantly enhances compressive strength compared to traditional mortars without glass, regardless of its color. Brown glass, especially in its coarse form, exhibited the best mechanical performance. With a W/C ratio of 0.48, mortars containing coarse brown glass particles reached a peak compressive strength of 34.78 MPa, showing a relative increase of 134.52% compared to mortars without glass. Fine brown glass particles also demonstrated strong compressive strength, though lower than the coarse ones. The density analysis showed a positive correlation between density and compressive strength, suggesting that denser mortars perform better mechanically. The superior performance of coarse glass particles is likely due to their optimal granular distribution, which enhances the bonding between cement and glass particles, leading to greater overall strength. Keywords: Compressive strength – Particle size – Recycled glass – Mortar – Density