Utilization of Waste Marble Sludge in Self-Compacting Concrete: A Study on Partial Replacement of Cement and Fine Aggregates

Hadi Bahmani (), Hasan Mostafaei (), Reza Mohamad Momeni and Sayyed Mehran Khoshoei
Additional contact information
Hadi Bahmani: Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
Hasan Mostafaei: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Reza Mohamad Momeni: Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Qom, Qom 37491-13357, Iran
Sayyed Mehran Khoshoei: Isfahan Municipal Railway Transportation Organization, Isfahan 81389-65516, Iran

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: This study presents a novel approach to the development of self-compacting concrete (SCC) by partially replacing both cement and fine aggregate (sand) with waste marble sludge (WMS), a byproduct of the marble industry. The research aims to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating this industrial waste into SCC to enhance sustainability without compromising performance. To assess the fresh and hardened properties of the proposed mixtures, a comprehensive experimental program was conducted. Tests included slump flow, T 50 , and V-funnel for evaluating workability, as well as measurements of specific gravity, compressive strength, flexural strength, Brazilian tensile strength, and water absorption at 28 days of curing. The results demonstrated that the mix containing 5% cement replacement and 20% sand replacement with marble sludge exhibited the highest mechanical performance, achieving a compressive strength of 48.2 MPa, tensile strength of 3.9 MPa, and flexural strength of 4.4 MPa. Furthermore, increasing the percentage of cement replacement led to enhanced flowability, as evidenced by an increase in slump flow diameter and a reduction in V-funnel flow time, indicating improved workability. Overall, the findings suggest that controlled incorporation of WMS can produce SCC with desirable mechanical and rheological properties, offering a promising pathway for sustainable concrete production. In addition to the technical performance, a carbon footprint analysis was conducted to examine the environmental benefits of marble sludge utilization. The mixture with 10% cement and 20% sand replacement exhibited the lowest carbon footprint, while the 7.5% replacement level provided the best balance between strength and sustainability.

Keywords: self-compacting concrete; fine aggregate; slump flow; mechanical performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8523/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/19/8523/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8523-:d:1756035

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().