Enhancing thermo-mechanical and moisture properties of 3D-Printed concrete through recycled ultra-fine waste glass powder

Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach to enhancing 3D printed concrete (3DPC) by incorporating ultra-fine glass powder (UFGP), focusing on its mechanical properties and high-temperature resistance. Investigation like fresh properties, basic physical properties, residual compressive strength after exposure to 400 °C and 800 °C, hygric properties such as water vapor diffusion resistance, liquid water transport, and moisture buffering capacity were performed the observe the effect of UFGP replacement ratio on 3DPC, which demonstrates significant improvements, highlighting the potential of UFGP to elevate 3DPCs’ performance. Results showed significant improvements, particularly with a 20% UFGP mix, which showed the lowest compressive strength loss (9.0% at 400 °C and 53.7% at 800 °C). Additionally, the water vapor diffusion resistance factor for the 20% UFGP mix was measured at 65.03. These results suggest that incorporating UFGP in 3DPC enhances thermal resilience and mechanical properties, offering a solution for high-temperature construction. This study contributes to sustainable construction by emphasizing the importance of mechanical resilience for structural integrity under extreme temperatures.