Utilizing Industrial and Construction Waste Materials in Oman Towards Sustainable Concrete

Concrete is one of the most essential construction materials required for the urbanization and economic growth of countries. Cement production, however, contributes to a significant portion of global CO
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emissions, which is why sustainable alternatives to cement are a paramount focus for construction industries. Oman is a young and rapidly developing nation which generates millions of tons of industrial and construction waste yearly. This study investigates the potential of partially replacing Portland cement (PC) with specific waste materials individually at 0-20% by mass: iron fillings (IF), saw dust (SD) and ceramic tiles (WCT). Compressive, flexural, absorption and consistence tests were conducted on concrete samples prepared from these materials, in accordance to British Standards. Interrelations of these properties were also examined, which is not often addressed in the literature. A REF sample composed of 100% PC also served as a measure of control. It was surmised that the SD and IF concretes displayed similar levels of absorptions for 0-10% replacement, but were considerably higher than REF. The WCT concretes at 0-10% replacements, however, exhibited both absorption and strength behavior relatively comparable to REF, which may support the potential of its use in practice.