Sustainable Concrete Using Ceramic Tile Waste as a Substitute for Brick Aggregate

Recycled materials have gained extensive recognition in many industrial sectors for enhancing sustainability and reducing environmental impacts. Combining ceramic tile waste (CTW) in concrete mixes with recycled aggregate will help lower natural aggregate demand and reduce the amount sent to landfill. This paper aims to study the mechanical properties of CTW in concrete mixes as a brick aggregate replacement and its impact on concrete strength and durability. To evaluate and assess their strength and durability, three types of concrete cubes were prepared using 20%, 40%, and 70% of waste ceramic tiles as a replacement for coarse aggregate. Two kinds of concrete samples were also prepared with conventional coarse aggregate as the control specimen (CC). A 1:2:4 concrete mixed ratio was used in this research with a 0.50 water-cement ratio. The samples were tested after 14 days and 28 days to assess their mechanical properties, including strength and durability. When CTW was added to concrete mixtures instead of brick chips, the mechanical strength rose considerably, and the water absorption performance increased. Moreover, replacing brick chips with ceramic waste in concrete could have significant environmental benefits.