MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND MECHANICAL TESTING OF HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCKS MADE FROM A CEMENT-GLASS POWDER MIXTURE

Abstract

Against a backdrop of the search for sustainable building materials and the recovery of industrial waste, this study focuses on the production process for hollow concrete blocks made from a cement-glass powder mixture. The aim is to assess the influence of glass powder on the mechanical and physical properties of the hollow blocks produced. The experimental work involved the manufacture and mechanical testing of hollow cement blocks measuring 15 cm 20 cm 40 cm incorporating glass powder. The samples were produced at an industrial site in order to replicate real-world manufacturing conditions. Glass powder was incorporated at different levels (0%, 10%, 15% and 20%) into the material formulation. The samples underwent a curing phase before being tested in the laboratory. The mechanical results show that a glass powder incorporation rate of 20% achieves a compressive strength of 6.40 MPa. This value exceeds the minimum requirement of 3.2 MPa set by standard NFP 14-301 of September 1983. The flexural strength measured for this same formulation is 1.96 MPa. Furthermore, the water absorption test revealed a coefficient of 4.48% after 1,440 minutes of immersion, in line with the specifications of the AFPC-AFREM standard (1997), which set this range between 4% and 8%.Looking ahead, future research will focus on investigating the thermal performance of hollow cement blocks containing glass powder.