High early strength concrete incorporating waste derived nanomaterials for sustainable construction

This paper contributes to the expanding knowledge base on nanomaterial-enhanced cementitious composites, offering valuable insights for developing high-performance, sustainable concrete solutions. The study assessed the effects of three different types of nanomaterials-nano clay (NC), nano silica (NS), and nano cellulose (NCel)-on the compressive strength of high-early-strength concrete (HESC) through both experimental studies and a 2³ factorial design. Incorporating nanomaterials into the HESC matrix led to a decrease in workability, with NCel demonstrating the least impact on this property across all studied replacement percentages. All HESC mixes containing nanomaterials exhibited higher compressive strength than the control mix (M mix) across all ages. The optimal percentages for compressive strength enhancement were 4.5% NC (33.43% increase at 3 days, 22.29% at 7 days, and 12.15% at 28 days), 4.5% NS (20.12%, 11.14%, and 4.89% respectively), and 0.0375% NCel (34.91%, 25.76%, and 13.46% respectively). The highest compressive strength was observed in the hybrid mix containing 4.5% NC and 0.0375% NCel, yielding strength enhancements of 35.7%, 26%, and 12.75% compared to the M mix. Statistical analysis indicated that nano cellulose had the most significant contribution to enhancing compressive strength, followed by nano clay. The mathematical models derived from the statistical analyses provide a reliable means of predicting the compressive strength of HESC at 3, 7, and 28 days based on nanomaterial content. Contour plots illustrated the optimization of compressive strength across different nanomaterial contents at each age. In summary, the findings underscore the potential of waste-derived nanomaterials to enhance the performance of HESC, paving the way for innovative waste utilization strategies in construction. The study emphasizes the importance of reducing curing times, improving structural durability, and minimizing the environmental impact associated with concrete production.