THE ROLE OF RECYCLED MATERIALS AND SUPPLEMENTARY BINDERS IN SUSTAINABLE CONCRETE

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has catalyzed intensive research into environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional concrete.This literature review explores innovative strategies for incorporating industrial and construction waste materials including fly ash (FA), recycled aggregates (RA), bottom ash, polymer fibers, and various geopolymeric binders into concrete to enhance both mechanical performance and ecological sustainability.Across diverse methodologies, researchers have evaluated the effects of materials such as treated wastewater (TWW), recycled concrete aggregates (RCA), coal bottom ash (CBA), and supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) like ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and silica fume (SF) on concrete's fresh and hardened properties, durability, and resistance to environmental degradation.Notably, the integration of fly ash across multiple studies has consistently demonstrated improvements in durability, strength development over extended curing periods, and reductions in environmental footprint particularly when combined with fiber reinforcement or alkaline activation for geopolymer applications.Collectively, these findings underscore the feasibility of transitioning toward a circular construction economy by utilizing sustainable concrete technologies without compromising structural integrity, offering a roadmap for future eco friendly building practices.